Apalachee High School holds virtual learning day for new security system
ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — Apalachee High School will hold a virtual learning day for students Monday to give staff time to familiarize themselves with a new weapons detection system approved by the Barrow County school board this week.
Apalachee High Principal Jessica Rehberg and Barrow County Schools Superintendent Dallas LeDuff announced the virtual learning day Saturday night, writing: “This will allow our staff time to familiarize themselves with the new devices and the procedures needed to ensure a smooth and successful implementation.”
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The announcement comes after the Barrow County Board of Education approved the weapons detection system for county high schools at a board meeting Thursday night.
District officials said board “unanimously approved the immediate implementation of OpenGate Weapons Detection System in all Barrow County High Schools,” at the meeting, which they scheduled after deputies said a student was arrested for bringing a gun to Apalachee High School on Wednesday.
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Parents, students and teachers have been calling for more security measures for the district since two students and two teachers were killed and multiple others were injured in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School on Sept. 4.
Sean Shultz is a parent at Apalachee High. He praised the district’s decision to purchase weapon detectors yet criticized the board for not doing so sooner.
“In my mind, this should have been step one from the beginning,” Shultz said. “Since September, this should have already been in place.”
Layla Contreras graduated from Apalachee High and has a sister who attends the school. She believes students and parents have hope with the weapons detection system being put in place.
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“They have a sense of relief,” Contreras said. “School should be a place for learning and they shouldn’t have to be in fear all the time.”
In the months between then and Thursday night, the school board also approved more school resource officers and more classroom desk phones for extra security.
In their announcement Saturday, Rehberg and LeDuff also provided the following overview of what students can expect over the next few weeks as the county’s three high schools begin using the weapons detection system:
- “Everyone should be prepared to walk through the devices upon entry and at various random location screenings throughout the day.
- Because processing times may be slower in the first days, we ask student drivers and car riders to arrive 15 minutes earlier than usual for these first weeks of implementation.
- Students and staff will all Chromebooks/laptops, three-ring binders, and metal water bottles to a staff member standing on the side of the devices. This will help expedite the screening process.
- If possible, do not carry bags if you do not need to in order to help limit items that would require a search.
- If the device sounds and shows a red light, the person must step aside for additional screening.”
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“We are thankful to our AHS staff who have volunteered to be the first to help with the process. OpenGate representatives will also be here for guidance,” Rehberg and LeDuff wrote. “We ask our community to extend patience and grace as we work together through this change. Thank you for your continued cooperation and .”
On Wednesday, a 14-year-old student was arrested for allegedly bringing a firearm to Apalachee High, according to the Barrow County Sheriff’s Office. He has been charged with two counts of possession of a weapon on school grounds, theft by taking and minor in possession of a firearm.
Deputies said there were “no reports of the student threatening anyone with the gun” and said the boy was cooperative.
Classes for Apalachee High students were canceled Thursday because of the incident.
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