Fairfax County school board members call for increase in safety measures after stabbing at high school
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. () — Fairfax County School Board members are calling for new security and safety measures after a 16-year-old student was stabbed at a high school Wednesday.
In a statement from school board members, officials noted that the school division is 'one of the safest public school systems in the United States.' However, they added that unacceptable violence took place at West Potomac High School, and it is necessary to invest in new measures to ensure the safety and security of students.
RELATED STORY | Police: 16-year-old seriously hurt in stabbing at West Potomac High School; teen charged
On April 23, the undersigned School Board Members shined the light on the Fairfax County School Board of Supervisors to prioritize increasing the number of School Resource Officers (SROs) to match the national recommendation of a ratio of 1:1,0000 to students at middle and high schools, ensure one or more SROs are present every day and fully fund Middle School After-School programs.
The Board Members also urged Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to increase security assistants to 1 to 1,750 students at all middle and high schools to ensure appropriate enforcement of student discipline.
In the statement, members said the school district should secure entry doors to prevent unauthorized access, install video cameras inside and outside every school in the district and construct security vestibules at every school.
Members are also encouraging the installation of Open Gate weapons detection technology at every middle and high school.
Fairfax County Public Schools to deploy 15 new detection scanners at high schools after spring break
The stabbing comes weeks after the school district announced on April 10 that it would begin testing 15 weapons detection scanners at high schools.
The pilot program involves the deployment of Open Gate devices at a randomly selected high school. Each week, at least one school will be chosen for several days. The program started on the week of April 21
School officials told DC News Now that Edison High School tested the detectors earlier this week.
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