School Safety

Hillsborough County schools open their doors this week.. and sometime this fall, Middle School and High School students will be subjected to some different and tough tests. Today.. in his annual back-to-school news conference... Dr. Earl Lennard announced random metal detector searches will begin this school year.
--[Squeal of metal detector:]--

This is a sound that will become as familair as school bells in Hillsborough County Middle Schools and High Schools this year. Superintendent Dr. Earl Lennard announced today random metal detector searches will be a part of a new aggressive Safe Schools campaign.

--[Dr. Earl Lennard:] ".. that's to improve parental and community confidence that schools are safe and that students are disciplined."--

The drastic action comes on the heels of school shootings around the country last year. Troubled teens shattering the sanctity of schools as safe havens. Just last month President Clinton told a teachers convention that tough anti-gun policies, curfews and school uniforms are needed to put order back in children's lives.

--[President Bill Clinton says:] "Our children will either sit in class or sit in the street. They will either learn from teachers or learn from gang leaders in the street."--

The Hillsborough School District has not seen the violence some school districts have, but there were nine incidences last year, when weapons were confiscated from students. Dr. Lennard says it's hoped the random use of metal detectors will reduce that number. A member of the district's Safe Schools Committee drawing up the plan says it's also hoped.. by using metal detectors.. parents will be reassured.

--[Ass't. Supt. Randy Poindexter says:] "We are not waiting for a tradegy. We are taking every precaution that we can prevent it."--

Doctor Lennard says going to the use of metal detectors is difficult step for him personally, but the need for a safe school environment is mandatory.

--[Dr. Lennard says:] "If anything we can do will help us ensure that one of these tradegies as has occured in other areas will not occur here, I think it behooves us to make that step."--

The proposed metal detection program would cost an estimated 81-thousand dollars. If it's approved by the school board, it would not go into effect for another 60-days.. allowing time for student and parental notification.

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