Broward County School officials announced the implementation of handheld metal detectors at public schools across the county on Thursday.
In January, the Broward County School Board voted to use handheld metal detectors to find guns, knives and other dangerous objects that pose a threat to students and staff.
During Thursday’s press conference, Broward County Schools Superintendent Dr. Vicki Cartwright said schools and classrooms will be chosen randomly.
The plan is to check at least two schools per day.
The decision to implement metal detection comes after an increase of school scares and social media threats.
A recent incident involved a 7-year-old being detained for bringing a gun to Dillard Elementary.
Another incident involved a 10-year-old bringing a 10 mm to Walker Elementary, causing that school to be placed on lockdown.
School officials hope the rollout of metal detectors across the county will prevent further incidents without making students feel targeted.
Cartwright told the press "we do not want anyone to feel as though we’re profiling or anything to that effect, because that’s not the intent. The intent is truly to do a randomized approach and making students question whether or not they should be bringing something to school or not.”
There will be no physical contact while students are being wanded and the metal detection will be done by professionals.