Kalamazoo Central firearm incident prompts stronger weapon-detector procedures

What happened

A student brought a concealed firearm into Kalamazoo Central High School on Oct. 16, and the weapon detector did not sound an alarm. The superintendent said the district would raise detector settings, require follow-up checks when alarms sound, and explore other ways to keep weapons out of schools.

Why it matters to families

A weapon entered a high school despite screening, exposing a serious gap in a safety system used at secondary-school entrances. The announced steps are intended to improve detection and ensure alarms are investigated before students proceed to class.

The evidence

At the Oct. 22 board meeting, Superintendent Slade said the detector did not alarm when the student passed through and that staff later located the firearm. He said the district would raise detector sensitivity, review procedures across secondary schools, recheck students and bags after alarms (including using a wand where needed), and explore additional prevention options. These were superintendent-described next steps, not a board vote. Source: document 136733.

The source