But Putnam County schools apparently are the only ones in the area with metal detector wands in their inventory of security devices. It's a means to conduct an unobtrusive search. Welton and other administrators said they are unaware of any objections to the devices, which were publicized in school newsletters and at parent group meetings. The president of the county Parent Advisory Council said she fully supports the security efforts in the schools, including the vibrating wand that was demonstrated at a council meeting earlier this year. Families are apprehensive because of school violence around the nation, she said.
People feel some comfort in knowing they are taking every precaution they know how to take.
But it's the additional walkie-talkies purchased with the grant money that really earn his praise. We probably have 12 now. You can stay in contact anywhere on the school campus. The grant helped purchase an interagency disaster trailer that will be used to store and transport emergency equipment and supplies. Administrators couldn't get direct information at the time of the 1997 leak at the FMC Corp. plant in Nitro because of clogged phone lines, Welton said.