Can you put a price on safety? Broward County Public Schools thinks you can. The price? $1,832,424.70. That’s how much it cost the school district to install metal detectors in all the public high schools across Broward County.

The county’s aims of this program are to increase the safety of schools and make sure that there is a  more secure learning environment. According to BCPS Board Member Debra Hixon, the school board had been discussing implementing metal detectors for a few years.

 “There were a variety of weapons getting into our schools and it was important to add this additional layer of security to help reduce this,” said Hixon.

Two years ago, 135 weapons possession incidents were reported in Broward County high schools, including at least three linked to gang activity according to the Florida Department of Education. Of these, 66 were reported to law enforcement.

Although these new measures in place may work to bring this number down significantly, South Broward senior Briana Galarza does not think the potential benefits of the detectors outweigh the potential costs.

“I think it might deter people from bringing certain items to school like vapes,” said Galarza. “But ultimately if someone wanted to harm others I don’t think the metal detectors would stop them.”

On the first couple of days, neither the staff nor students were prepared for just how long the whole process would take. Students had no clue what would set off the detectors and what wouldn’t. The journey has been an uphill battle, and even Galarza can admit they have gotten slightly more efficient over time.

“Of course everyone was late in the beginning, but I get to class on time everyday now,” she said.

Although the school’s security team has worked out the kinks for morning arrival, it did not do much to change her perception of South Broward’s new morning routine.

“I don’t think they search us thoroughly enough for it to be effective,” said Galarza.

It is easy for students to dismiss the detectors as an unnecessary trouble, but South Broward Security Guard, Balvin Small has a different perspective. He monitors students with metal detectors all day long – either the walk-through or hand-held. But, he says it’s all up to the students to ensure they remove all large metal objects like laptops and water bottles from their bags.

“If a kid’s bag does go off, we try and take out the metals, one by one to see what passes inside their bag and let them know,” said Small.

Although the detectors were implemented for students’ safety and security, it can take a toll on those who set up and man the weapon detection systems every single morning. There are more than 67,583 high school students in Broward County, and  according to Hixon, no additional security personnel was hired this school year to help manage the metal detectors.

“We have someone on the staff who comes in at 6:00 am or 6:30 am and sets up,” said Small. “I just wish they had somebody else to work them [metal detectors] because it’s a lot in the morning with all the kids coming through.”

Some students have been talking amongst each other about how to improve the process. Popular suggestions include starting school at a later time or implementing additional weapon detection systems throughout the campus

SBHS junior Ariela Brody thinks there should be more metal detectors at the entrances so the process is quicker.

“Honestly, the lines are pretty quick if you get there early,” said Brody. “And even if you are a bit late, I still think you can get to class on time.”

Although Hixon believes the weapons detection system is an obvious solution, according to the Institute of Education Sciences, there is insufficient evidence showing that metal detectors reduce the risk of violent behaviors among students and can have a damaging impact on the perception of safety to students. 

“Unfortunately, we live in a world where we have to be diligent about keeping weapons out of our schools, and this is one layer to help us make sure our students and staff are safe,” said Hixon.

This story was originally published on Bulldog Bark on November 1, 2024.