Weapons scanners coming to Chesterfield schools after threats

Driving the news: The School Board unanimously approved the scanners Tuesday night, making the county one of the last Richmond-area school systems to add them.

• The vote follows intensifying concerns from parents and staff about school violence and a need for more safety measures.

Zoom out: It also puts Chesterfield in line with Richmond, which has had metal detectors in its middle and high schools for over a year.

• Henrico added weapons scanners to its elementary schools last year, after already placing them in its other schools in 2023.
• Hanover only uses them for major athletic events.

By the numbers: CCPS is paying nearly $2.8 million to purchase about 150 weapons scanners.

• They'll have an annual cost of almost $150,000 for maintenance and troubleshooting.

Yes, but: The Board of Supervisors still has to approve the allocation of funds for the scanners on May 28, though the purchase orders have already begun, per county documents.

What's next: If the timeline stays as expected, CCPS could get the first systems by the end of June, test them during summer school, then have them ready to go when the new year starts on Aug. 18.