In Virginia, Alexandria City Public Schools staff members updated school board members on safety measures either already in place, or in the process of being implemented, including everything from camera upgrades to making sure door alarms are loud enough.

Staff also asked board members to weigh in on a potential pilot program that would involving installing an advanced form of security screening in middle and high schools in order to detect weapons.

It’s an uncomfortable decision and a tough decision but as the leader of this school division I want to ensure that our students and our staff and any visitors into our buildings are safe at all times," Interim Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt said during a meeting Thursday.

The new weapons abatement systems are not like metal detectors of old. These screening devices use software and sensors to detect the difference between something benign and something dangerous, so guns and knives don’t get into schools.

While I’ve never been a strong support of this type of device, I certainly right now in our society understand the need," school board member Tammy Ignacio said.

“It makes me feel more unsafe honestly and I feel it’s a bad look for our school if we put them in there. I feel more uncomfortable honestly having those in my school," student representative Emily Milton added.

In the end, the board decided to study the issue of weapons abatement technology further and after getting stakeholder input, will reconsider the pilot program.

“And it’s all about safety first. I don’t care what the machine looks like. I just want to make sure someone doesn’t bring a gun in the school and use it," said board member Willie Bailey, Sr.

Staff members also recommended the school system continue to use school resource officers in the coming school year. The issue was discussed but not voted on.