JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Officials in Jacksonville say all Duval County high schools will soon have walk-through metal detectors and hand “wands” to check student for weapons.
The decision was made Monday and district’s police force director Michael Edwards says it will take 30 to 90 days for the equipment to arrive and additional time for it to be installed.
The district is paying $2.5 million for the metal detectors and some security cameras.
The Florida Times-Union reports the decision reverses a long-held position by previous leaders of the school district. But Edwards said the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas in February and a rash of shootings involving Duval County schools led to the changes.
Superintendent Diana Greene says each high school will get two metal detectors.
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