Metal Detectors for Schools Proposed
Responding to an increase in knives on junior high school campuses, Oxnard School District trustees are expected to discuss this evening the possibility of disarming students by using metal detectors.
In the last year, the number of students bringing knives to schools increased from five to 23, Supt. Bernard Korenstein said.
The 13,000-student district has two junior high schools and 13 elementary campuses.
Board members and district administrators are scheduled to address the legal and financial ramifications of using detectors and to discuss their effectiveness, Korenstein said.
“We want to present to the board what options are available,” Korenstein said.
Although most children who have brought knives to school have just shown them off, two older students have threatened classmates, Korenstein said.
Most students who brought knives to school were 13 or 14 years old, Korenstein said.
Korenstein said the district has sent parents letters advising them of state laws prohibiting weapons on campus.
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