LARGO, Fla. \u2014 After a trial period for weapons detection systems at two high schools was cut short, Pinellas County Schools Superintendent Kevin Hendrick plans to discuss any potential future for the program with school board members Tuesday.<\/p>\n
In early April, the district started a pilot program<\/a> at Gibbs and Palm Harbor University high schools where students would walk through weapon detection systems as they enter the school campus each day. The program was initially set to last until May 29, but one week in, Hendrick announced it would conclude after just two weeks.<\/p>\n \u201cThe last day of the school-based pilots will be Friday, April 17, to ensure there\u2019s no impacts as our high schools begin international testing and state testing soon thereafter,\u201d Hendrick told school board members during a meeting mid-April.<\/p>\n In the initial days of the rollout, students reported long lines in the early-morning while waiting to enter the school building. On some of the days, the screening process ended early so students wouldn\u2019t be late for their first class.<\/a><\/p>\n A trial program for weapon detection systems lasted 2 weeks at Gibbs & Palm Harbor University high schools.<\/p>\n New data shows the systems alerted to 9.1% of students at Palm Harbor & 7% of students at Gibbs. Things like water bottles, art projects were flagged by machines @BN9<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/13w34TLTi2<\/a><\/p>\n