Harford County Public Schools is looking into installing weapon detection systems, increasing the number of permanent school safety liaisons and meeting with local law enforcement personnel as part of an enhanced safety plan following the fatal shooting inside Joppatowne High School last month.

The plan was presented during the Board of Education’s meeting Monday night by the school system’s chief of security, Donoven Brooks, and the co-chair of its School Safety Work Group, Stacey Gerringer, who is also principal at Abingdon Elementary School.

School safety professionals used an annual crisis preparedness report along with stakeholder feedback to identify critical needs and improvements for school safety.

Brooks said one of the key areas of feedback was the use of weapons detection systems — a security measure Harford schools has been testing.

“One of the most critical steps we have taken to address security upgrades has been the testing of weapons detection technology in two of our high schools,” Brooks said. “The systems are designed to integrate at main entry points. They scan for weapons and additional threats and create an additional layer of security.”

Since 15-year-old Warren Grant was killed at Joppatowne High last month, parents, teachers and students have urged the school system to install metal detectors or a similar weapons detection system. A petition started by Harford schools parent Marcus Custer advocating for clear backpacks and detection systems in schools had 4,279 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.

Brooks said the systems are designed to be visible, but not invasive, to ensure minimal disruption to the daily flow of students and staff in the building.

Brooks said Harford school safety professionals have learned that the most effective use of weapon detection systems would require additional security personnel, which would increase the costs.

“Investing in these resources is critical to fully realize the system’s potential and provide the highest level of protection for our students, staff and community measures,” Brooks said.

Brooks, along with numerous Harford school, county and law enforcement officials recently visited the Edgewood-based global security technology manufacturer Smiths Detection to learn about weapons detection systems such as its “Opengate.” The manufacturer said its Opengate system can process hundreds of people wearing backpacks, jackets and jewelry in a matter of 30 minutes without false alarms caused by things such as metal on a three-ring binder or cellphones.

School officials have been evaluating different weapons detection systems functions and have yet to identify which system would be most beneficial for Harford schools, Brooks explained during the presentation.

“We are in the infant stages of testing these two pieces of equipment so right now we are really looking more at what technology would integrate best with what we have already, then we would look at what would seamlessly fit best with our existing security measures,” Brooks said.

Brooks said Harford school officials are unsure if they will use the systems in all schools, only high schools, or a select few schools. He said there will be conversations with stakeholders to determine the best approach.

The school system is also working to install high-resolution door entry cameras at all schools. The cameras allow front office personnel to check visitor identification before visitors enter the building. Brooks said the school system is working on a full, system-wide surveillance camera refresh that would replace outdated cameras with the high resolution, high coverage cameras.

In the event of an emergency, Brooks cited walkie-talkies as being critical for school personnel. He said all personnel are trained to use their radios in the event of an emergency — not phones due to spotty service in school buildings. As part of the new safety enhancement plan, Harford schools are moving to virtual walkie-talkies to avoid interference and increase communication reliability in school buildings.

Harford schools also have been working to increase the number of school safety liaisons across the county. The liaisons are responsible for overseeing day-to-day security operations and addressing concerns in schools in real time. They act as a vital link between administrators and students, law enforcement and the community. Currently, all middle and high schools in the county have one school safety liaison.

Schools without dedicated liaisons are served by regional security coordinators who assist in oversight of safety measures and help identify best practices and responses in school emergencies.

“While no security measure can guarantee absolute protection, we are committed to continuously evaluating and refining our security strategies to minimize, identify and prevent threats and enhance the safety of our schools,” Brooks said.

Harford school safety officials meet with local law enforcement personnel from each municipality and the Harford County Sheriff’s Office on a monthly basis to share resources, information and craft new ways to effectively collaborate on school safety initiatives.

On Tuesday, Harford County school and law enforcement officials will meet with community members to address school safety. The meeting will run from 5:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. at Patterson Mill Middle/High School with attendance capped at 100 to “most efficiently discuss ideas during the event,” the school system said in a news release.

Registration for this meeting has reached capacity, according to the school board, but more will be scheduled, Board of Education President Aaron Poynton said.

Have a news tip? Contact Matt Hubbard at mhubbard@baltsun.com, 443-651-0101 or @mthubb on X.