How can students stay safe in school? That’s a question school leaders and lawmakers are asking themselves.
Representative Wendell Gilliard has been pushing for metal detectors in all South Carolina schools for six years. But, some school districts are ahead of the legislature.
Over five years ago, Georgetown County Schools added metal detectors. But, they don’t use them every day.
"We might do a front entrance one day, a bus ramp another day, both entrances another day," said Alan Walters, the Executive Director of Safety and Risk Management at Georgetown County School District.
Walters said running the detectors takes a lot of staff members, but the district is happy they have them.
They are looking for new technology to detect weapons. "You just walk through and these devices use artificial intelligence to detect imprints of firearms and things like that," Walters said about the new tech. "It won't pick up cell phones and keys so you don’t have to empty pockets."
Walters said the detectors aren't the full answer to school security, they are a piece of the puzzle. He believes the best protection is people speaking up.
"It's so important when people see something that makes you think, 'Should I tell someone about this?' The answer is always yes. When it comes to school safety we have to be right 100% of the time," he said.
We reached out to other local districts for information. Dorchester School District Four has ordered metal detectors and District Two is considering them.
Charleston County School District has metal detector wands at all high schools and middle schools. Berkeley County School District told us they aren't considering metal detectors for now.
Rep. Gilliard believes all schools should have metal detectors. "We need that two tier buffer," he said.
Right now it's in subcommittee, and he hopes it moves forward in January.
"(Metal detectors are) in our everyday life now so if it's good enough to use in those types of venues, then surely it can protect our children, teachers and custodians," Gilliard said.