CPS to have demonstration for ‘touchless weapons-detection system’ Tuesday morning
COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)
A Columbia Public Schools spokesperson said on Monday that the district will host a demonstration for a weapons-detection system called Evolv.
The demonstration will occur at 8:30 a.m. Tuesday at Hickman High School.
“At this time, the district has not contracted for the service and the Board of Education has not taken action on the implementation of a system,” CPS spokesperson Michelle Baumstark said in an email. “However, the district is investigating the possibility and the logistics and considerations that would need to be discussed should a non-invasive, touchless weapons detection system be installed in its 3 comprehensive high schools.”
Baumstark said in the email that superintendents from other Boone County schools, as well as private and parochial school leaders, were invited.
CPS sent an email to employees and parents about the demonstration last week. In the email, administrators said:
“On Tuesday, April 11, we will be working with an outside company to conduct a demonstration for CPS and area school officials, as well as law enforcement, on a weapons detection system. The demonstration will take place all day but will be focused primarily during arrival of our students at the school’s west entrance.
Students will be asked to walk through the detection system on arrival. Students may be asked to remove their laptops from their bags as they enter the building.
On Wednesday, April 12, the system will be demonstrated in several internal areas of the building, including a main hallway during passing time.”
A press release on Evolv’s website says the system is used by the Philadelphia Phillies, among other clients, which includes school districts.
School safety has been on the mind of those within the community recently, as Hickman students walked out of class last week in protest of gun violence in schools in the wake of a school shooting in Nashville.
A non-credible threat for the school was discovered in November. In another instance in March involving a CPS school, a Rock Bridge student was referred to the juvenile justice system for making threats after an investigation into bathroom graffiti. Another scare was investigated in February, but it was learned it was not affiliated with Rock Bridge.
