Berkeley County School District (BCSD) began piloting the random use of weapons screeners at Philip Simmons High School on Wednesday, April 30. This initiative is part of our ongoing commitment to continuously enhancing the safety and security of our campuses.
This pilot program, featuring the random deployment of weapons screeners, further strengthens the district’s comprehensive security and emergency management efforts. The expanded and random use of weapons screeners aims to deter individuals from bringing weapons on campus and reduce the potential for violence.
“We have consistently strengthened and expanded our security and emergency management efforts—from K-9 free-air sniffs and clear bag/no-bag entry procedures to suspicionless searches and weapons screening at after-school events,” said Superintendent Dr. Anthony Dixon. “Piloting the random deployment of weapons screeners during the school day further illustrates our ongoing commitment to evaluating school safety and security enhancements for our students and staff. I appreciate Principal Buchholz’s leadership and willingness to serve as a pilot location as we assess the effectiveness of incorporating this security measure across our schools.”
What to Expect:
Screening dates, times, and campus locations will vary and will not follow a set schedule.
Screenings will be conducted randomly and in a non-invasive manner.
Weapons screeners will not be used daily in the same location or at the same time, reinforcing the unpredictable nature of this safety measure as a deterrent.
BCSD Security and Emergency Management personnel will be onsite to support and guide students through the process.
If a screener alerts:
The individual will be asked to walk through a second time.
If it alerts again, a trained security staff member will perform a secondary screening using a handheld wand.
Safety and security is our number one priority. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we continue to expand and increase our safety and security procedures.