County leaders in Wicomico County, Maryland are planning to implement weapons detection systems in high schools by January 2027 as part of a new layer of school security. County Executive Julie Giordano has proposed a $237.5 million budget for FY27, which includes an increase of $21,271,798, or 9.8%, from the previous year. The budget increase also allocates an additional $2,398,177 for the Wicomico County Board of Education, which will cover expenses such as teacher pensions and private pre-K programs.
The budget for FY27 also includes funding for weapons detection systems in schools, with an estimated cost of $1.3 million. This cost includes a one-time expense of $450,000 to purchase the equipment and an annual recurring cost of $887,000 for additional staff to operate the systems. School officials believe that implementing these systems is essential to enhance safety measures, with Director of School Climate and Safety Tara O’Barsky stating that “weapons detection is just the next piece of that evolution to enhancing and strengthening those layers.”
The phased rollout of the weapons detection systems will focus on high schools first, followed by middle and elementary schools, and eventually all schools, programs, and administrative offices. The goal is to complete the full rollout within the next two to three years. While some parents have expressed concerns about the impact of these systems on students, district officials emphasize the importance of improving school safety. The proposed budget, including funding for the detection systems, is pending final approval from the County Council, which has shown support for the plan.
