RACINE -- The Racine Unified School District has purchased metal detectors in an effort to keep weapons out of schools. The district purchased two portable metal detectors. On any given day, they could make an appearance at different schools.
When Washington Park High School students return in the fall, they may be greeted by metal detectors similar to what you'd find at airport security checks.
"It's probably about time," said parent Adrian Smith. "I don't really necessarily have a problem with it."
Smith has three kids who are all in different schools.
"Their safety is probably my number one concern and then number two is their education," said Smith.
District spokeswoman Stacy Tapp said the walk-through metal detectors have been in their plans for the past couple years.
"It will be random so that students and staff aren't necessarily expecting it on that day," she said.
School leaders have visited other districts that use them to find out everything from where they are best placed to who supervises them.
"Utilizing our school resource officers and also school staff," she said.
The purchase is separate from a $950,000 school safety grant the district has applied for through the state.
"A bulk of what we've requested is to upgrade our security cameras," Tapp said.
Back to the metal detectors, Smith thinks they will serve a purpose.
"I think it will be a deterrent, whether or not they actually do something, that's another story because if kids want to get something in there, they're going to get something in there," he said.
