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Notes: Last day for Alexandria City Public Schools’ survey about metal detectors in schools

By ALXnow.com

Good Wednesday morning, Alexandria!

🌤 Today’s weather: Clear throughout the day. High of 48 and low of 30.
🌤 Tomorrow: Clear throughout the day. High of 53 and low of 31. Sunrise at 6:30 am and sunset at 6:09 pm.

🚨 You need to know

Today is the last day to give Alexandria City Public Schools (ACPS) your thoughts on the potential use of metal detectors and other weapons screening equipment in schools.

A survey was launched late last month and closes after today (Wednesday). The survey asks whether you support the use of weapons screening equipment at all ACPS schools, just the middle and high schools, or none. The survey also offers some options to explain why they feel the new devices are or aren’t necessary.

After the School Board said in 2021 that metal detectors weren’t being considered at ACPS facilities, that changed after several incidents involving students with weapons at ACPS. Last month, the School Board voted to approve a pilot program installing weapon screening devices at Alexandria City High School (ACHS) and the city’s middle schools. The issue of weapons in schools resurfaced this week when a teacher confiscated a handgun from a student at ACHS’ Minnie Howard Campus.

While the School Board voted unanimously in favor of the security systems they said were necessary, ACHS senior and student representative Emily Milton said the new detection systems would not sit well with students.

“I feel like it’s a bad look for our school if we put them in there,” Milton said. “I feel more uncomfortable, honestly, having those in my school.”

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About the Author

  • This is the staff byline for ALXnow, used by editors and other full-time staff. Launched in October 2019, ALXnow is the place for the latest news, views and things to do around Alexandria, Virginia.