Salt Lake City high schools will soon begin staffing weapon detectors. But some worry the technology may have an outsized impact on students of color.
SALT LAKE CITY — Salt Lake City high schools will begin staffing weapon detectors after fall break. But some parents and a few Salt Lake City School Board membersThe Salt Lake City School Board recently approved the use of state funds for a one-year contract with security firm PalAmerican to staff machines at East, West and Highland high schools as well as Horizonte Instruction and Training Center, the district's alternative high school.
District spokeswoman Yándary Chatwin said the district is including its social-emotional learning team — a team of specialists working in conjunction with school counselors to help students develop social and emotional skills — in conversations about the detectors to mitigate the emotional and mental impact the technology may have on students.
"I oppose it because the data shows that this type of hardening offers virtually zero protection against school-based violence," Anderson said. "But what I'm even more worried about is the body of public health and police deescalation research that shows unsworn officers — like those in the contract with PalAmerica — risk the escalation of violence, specifically for people of color.
Other board members said while they understand and appreciate Anderson's and Baayd's concerns, parents from a variety of backgrounds have pleaded with board members for the machines."I know that we need to recognize that it's challenging for individuals, but then we also need to consider that there are other individuals and many parents that this is giving them some peace of mind," board member Bryan Jensen said.
Research into the overall effectiveness of metal detectors is ongoing, but Fisher said a more proven investment into school safety is developing strong student-staff relationships and a sense of belonging at school.
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