Weapons detectors soon will be installed in all six comprehensive high schools in Salem-Keizer Public Schools, Superintendent Andrea Castañeda announced Friday.
The move comes amidst increasing violence in the district’s schools.
In the spring, three students were shot, one fatally , near South Salem High School. Already this school year there have been gun incidents at West Salem and McKay high schools.
“It is the right decision for conditions today. It’s the right decision to keep our students and our staff safe. And it is unfortunately our responsibility because there aren’t other actions being taken that help broaden that responsibility,” Castañeda said during a briefing for media.
“These measures are what schools can do. They are not a solution to community violence,” she said.
Castañeda said she isn’t aware of any other district in Oregon or Washington installing scanners in all of its secondary schools.
“This is not a thing that Salem-Keizer wishes to be first in. But we’re willing to be first because we do prioritize safety and comprehensive measures,” she said.