Walking into first period this year, students at West Springfield High School pass through the newly installed weapons detection system, a change that has sparked mixed reactions across the school community. The detectors, introduced later in the year than at many other FCPS schools, are part of a broader countywide effort to enhance school safety.
WSHS safety and security specialist Bradley Adams explained that the timing wasn’t a school-level decision.
“It was part of a countywide plan,” Adams said. “We were given a specific date when it would start,” he added, emphasizing that safety is the top priority.
Each morning, screening runs for about 40 minutes, with entrances staffed by counselors, security personnel, teachers and administrators at designated doors.
“Students seem to have plenty of time to get to class on time,” Adams said. “I don’t anticipate having any problems for big testing days like SOLs or AP exams.”
Still, the process is demanding.
“The detectors provide a safer school environment, but it is challenging for our staff to screen 2,700 students every day,” Adams added.
Math teacher and WSHS alumnus Kristopher Benton said the detectors carry mixed emotions for him.
“On the one hand, it’s reassuring to have a new tool to lower the risk of a terrible situation happening at our school,” Benton said. “On the other hand, it’s tough to see because I never thought WSHS—or FCPS in general—would be a place where weapons detectors were needed.”
Benton believes the daily screenings do improve safety, even if students are less enthusiastic.
“[There is] just a general feeling of annoyance on the students’ part,” said Benton. “The weapons detectors don’t seem to be too popular. Change is hard, but it gets easier over time. Two things can be true at once—the detectors are annoying, but they also help make our school safer.”
Sophomore Nassim Haji admitted he expected to dislike the new routine.
“I wanted to dislike it at first,” Haji said. “I thought it would be like other schools in the county, with long lines and a nightmare to get through every morning. But I couldn’t really find a good reason to dislike it.
I guess I like it because it adds that little bit of safety our school needs.”
Senior Brayden Kelley remains on the fence.
“The message about safety is right, but I’m not convinced the approach is perfect. The detectors are super inconsistent with beeping,” Kelley said.
Sophomore Maximilian King shared similarly mixed feelings.
“I like how our school is super efficient with it,” said King. “But if you set it off a bunch of times, sometimes they just wave you through. That makes me wonder how strict it really is.”
Despite mixed opinions, the detectors are here to stay.
