Christian County School Board purchasing weapons-detection devices for high schools

During a special virtual meeting Monday afternoon, the Christian County School Board unanimously approved the purchase of a weapons-detection system that will be placed at the entrances of both high schools and the Bluegrass Learning Academy.

District Technology Director Jason Wilson described the Motorola system that’s being purchased from ERS Wireless, saying unlike a traditional metal detector, students can move quickly through the entrance and the devices will alert an administrator watching a monitor if a weapon is detected.

He says the system can be easily moved to anywhere there’s electricity and be utilized at places like ballgames and graduations.

The system has a facial recognition component that can be utilized and Wilson says it could potentially alert the school if someone on the sex offender registry is entering the building.

The cost of the system is about $809,000 and the district could choose to purchase cameras and two-way radios that integrate with it in the future.