Poplar Bluff School District discusses weapon detection system

At the October meeting of the Poplar Bluff R-I School Board, Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman presented the board with several options for equipment designed to improve school security.

The board expressed interest in pursuing the Opengate weapons detection system for use this year at the high school, junior high, and Mark Twain campuses.

The Opengate system is portable and battery powered, with adjustable levels of sensitivity that can detect weapons such as firearms and knives or smaller objects like vapes and lighters.

Cornman said the detectors cost $19,000 each, with a one-time $3,000 training fee for each campus that deploys the system.

The estimated cost for Poplar Bluff High School would be $120,000 to cover all entrances. The units could also be used for security at sporting events, prom and graduation.

The cost for Poplar Bluff Junior High and Mark Twain School would be $41,000 each.

The board took no action this month, but Cornman said that he would present them with a formal quote for purchase and deployment next month.

“You can’t put a price on students’ safety,” Cornman said.

Cornman also continued to discuss the use of Yondr Pouches, which are security pouches with magnetic locks to secure students’ cell phones during school hours so they cannot use them while on campus until the end of the day.

The estimated cost of enough pouches to cover the High School and Junior High would be $87,000, while extending the cell phone ban to Mark Twain, the Technical Career Center, and Poplar Bluff Middle School would cost a collective $143,000.

A recent poll sent out to parents was inconclusive about which course of action is preferred, so Cornman plans to email parents to solicit opinions about the pros and cons of taking this action.

Several board members expressed a desire to move forward with cell phone restrictions, as other Missouri school districts that have prohibited cell phones have reported better student performance with fewer behavioral incidents as a result.

No proposal on the cell phone ban will move forward until more input from parents and the community has been solicited and collected.

The board approved the Annual Graduation Program Evaluation & Assessment, in which High School Principal Dr. Valerie Ivy reported that last year’s graduation rate was 93%, identical to the previous year.

Dake Wells Architecture won the request for qualifications to develop the PB R-I Long Range Plan for facilities from 2024-2034. The board praised the Springfield firm for the quality of their proposal and the expertise they will bring to the project.

In approving the monthly financial/investment report for September 2024, the board authorized the district to purchase nine new copy machines to replace two non-functional units and seven showing excessive wear.

In upcoming calendar items, all schools will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 31 for Collaboration Day and again on Friday, Nov. 1.

Due to scheduling conflicts, the next board of education meeting will take place on Nov. 19 at 6 p.m.