Cumberland middle, high schools to begin using weapons detectors
VENN
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Cumberland County's middle and high schools will officially begin using new weapons detection systems on Wednesday.
Starting on Wednesday, March 25, students at Cumberland Middle School and Cumberland High School will need to walk through OpenGate Weapon Detection systems when entering the building, according to a March 24 Facebook post from Cumberland County Public Schools.
These detectors are designed to allow students to walk through without having to fully put down their bags, per the school division. They can wear their backpacks either on their backs or on their chests, with both straps on their shoulders. This is demonstrated in the picture below.
Demonstration of how students can wear their backpacks when passing through weapons detection systems at Cumberland County schools. (Photo: Cumberland County Public Schools)
However, several items will need to be removed from bags and handed to staff before a student passes through, including things like:
- Chromebooks and laptops
- Tablets and iPads
- Three-ring binders with metal rings
- Metal lunchboxes
- Umbrellas
- Metal pencil cases
- Metal eyeglass cases
The school district specified that the non-electronic items listed above have to be removed because their density "often mimics the signature of a prohibited item."
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Officials added that students who are dropped off at the school are asked to use the middle school entrance, while students who ride the bus are asked to use the bus loop entrance. Doors will not open until 7:15 a.m. each day.
"Thank you for your understanding as we work to make our school a safer place for everyone," the school division said.
