New school security measures unlocked for Wicomico County Public Schools

SALISBURY, Md. — Wicomico Board of Education officials and Wicomico County Public Schools are discussing school safety and how to implement a district-wide weapons detection system.

District Superintendent Dr. Micah Stauffer said “We’ve been improving our school security measures for several years. In today’s world, that’s something that’s important to us. That’s our first priority.”

Amber Vitacco, a parent in Wicomico shared, “The best time to start was yesterday. The second best time is right now. So I think that it needs to be done quickly. That needs to be done efficiently to prevent even one more event from happening in our schools.”

As parents raise concerns about school safety, officials are pushing to increase security at every level. “We would like these systems in all of our schools elementary, middle and high school.” Stauffer added, “It would cost 6 million dollars to make the upgrades starting with the high schools. That alone, would cost one point 7 million dollars.”

He explained that the price is higher due to bigger schools like, “Wi High, Parkside or Bennett. We’re talking about 13, 14, 1500 students that are coming into those entrances in the morning each and every day.”

Each school would need between four and six systems to screen all students in 15 minutes or less.

“That next step in this timeline is to secure the funding. To be able to do that, we’ll be engaging with our local government, engaging with the state delegation. ” said Stauffer. The district has also been looking for grants, a process Dr. Stauffer said has been tough. Especially while working to protect 30 schools, 15,600 students, and 2,500 teachers.

Vitacco believes that student safety remains a top priority in schools. “Whether it’s at another elementary school, like all of our kids, regardless of age, need to be taken into account.”