MATTHEW BURNETTE, Staff Writer

As part of a presentation given at the February Manchester Area Chamber of Commerce Luncheon, Manchester City Schools Director Dr. Joey Vaughn discussed a new piece of safety equipment being implemented at one Manchester Middle School.

Westwood Middle School recently installed a pair of portable weapons detectors. Vaughn explained that the installation of the detectors is part of an effort that City schools have made to be prepared for safety-related incidents.

“One of the things that we really spent a lot of time on in Manchester City Schools… is safety,” said Vaughn. “We’ve been through a lot of things, and look, nothing has happened in Manchester that makes us want to do something different, but we’re being very proactive.”

The set of weapons detectors, costing approximately $21,000, was funded by what was originally a $30,000 Safe Schools Grant that has now become a part of Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement (TISA) funding.

Westwood Principal James Dobson was on-hand at the luncheon to offer further details about the equipment.

The OPENGATE detection system utilizes two pillars that detect density and specifically weapons like rifles, pistols and knives among others. Each pillar weighs around fifteen pounds and is “very portable” so they can be utilized throughout the school and at sporting events.

“What you see is what you get,” said Dobson. “It’s not like when you go to the airport or like back in the bad old days when you had this metal monstrosity that you had to walk through.”

One additional benefit noted by Dobson is the convenience of not having to remove items such as belts and shoes before passing through the system like at the airport. He also noted that individuals won’t have to remove their keys from their pockets.

“My teachers, they teach; they’re not U.S. Army Rangers,” said Dobson. “I don’t want our school to seem like a prison. We’re trying to find that fine line.”

Dobson explained that he wants to keep all the students and employees at Westwood safe and is glad to have the weapons detection system in addition to other safety measures.

“That’s just another layer of security to go along with our cameras and what we put on the outside-facing windows,” he said. “We have a lot of assets, and this is just another tool.”