By Hank Russell
Following an incident in which a handgun was found in a student’s backpack, the William Floyd School District decided it was not taking chances and announced that all high school students will be scanned with handheld metal detectors to be checked for guns and other weapons, starting on October 21.
On October 17, a 14-year-old William Floyd High School student was arrested for bringing a loaded gun on school grounds. He was charged with criminal possession of a weapon.
“[J]ust prior to high school dismissal, a high school student was brought to an administrator’s office for possible vaping,” read a statement on the school district website. “When the student was searched with a metal detecting wand, it was discovered that the student was in possession of a handgun. The handgun was confiscated and the police were immediately notified. This has been turned over to law enforcement who are continuing their investigation. The student will be dealt with through the criminal justice system.”
The district went on to state that the student in question will be “subject to severe consequences” by the school for violations of the district’s code of conduct.
Long Island Life & Politics reached out to the school district for more information. District spokesperson James Montalto referred LILP to the school district’s emergency response training presentation, in accordance with the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Act, which is designed to “prevent or minimize the effects of violent incidents and emergencies and facilitate the coordination of schools and school districts with local county resources in the event of such incidents or emergencies.”
The district said students would experience “longer wait times” to get into school. In addition, “[t]he district has also requested a police presence at arrival and throughout the day [on October 22].” Meanwhile, it “will will continue and increase its practice” of scanning each student as they enter the school.