In 2023, a 6-year-old at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, VA shot his first-grade teacher after pulling a gun from his backpack, prompting the school district to implement weapons detectors in all its schools. While we hope that most students will not ever have to experience a school shooting, gun violence is nationally on the rise since the pandemic.
Although the injured teacher survived, the incident has led at least 10 Virginia school districts to adopt AI-based scanners to detect weapons at entrances. Nationwide, many schools are investing millions in weapons detection systems to alleviate safety fears among students, parents, and educators.
At SEICO Security, our team of security experts provides a list of AI weapons detectors that we recommend, along with information on grant funding so that it is easier for schools and school districts to implement these increasingly necessary tools.
Evolv™
Evolv™, a leading weapons detection technology for schools, markets “noninvasive” systems that scan thousands of people an hour. Unlike a traditional metal detector, Evolv uses AI to identify weapons with “active sensing”, a light-emission technique, that also underpins radar and lidar to create images then compared with the shapes of weapons the AI recognizes. The result is a streamlined search that doesn’t require kids to empty pockets or backpacks.
IntelliSee®
Gain Situational Awareness with IntelliSee® — featuring Active Monitoring. IntelliSee offers a reliable, proactive solution by overlaying and continuously scanning your live surveillance camera feeds for potential threats. When a threat is detected, IntelliSee instantly alerts designated contacts and systems to the nature and location of the threat so you can act whenever, wherever.
- Detect a wide range of threats — from common to catastrophic.
- Overlays your existing system as a simple, cost-effective add-on.
- No expensive hardware or camera upgrades needed.
- Works autonomously — no additional personnel required.
- Immediate, real-time alerts so you can act quickly.
NetWatch
NetWatch Proactive Video Monitoring (PVM) is the best way to prevent crimes from occurring. Teams of highly trained Intervention Specialists receive alerts when unusual activity is detected by the filtering software. They can then act, providing a real-time audio warning to the intruder and often causing them to flee the scene, stopping the crime before it happens. Intervention Specialists can also provide continuing, real-time support to authorities. Best-in-class NetWatch Monitoring Centers offer geo-diversity to ensure continuous vigilance of your assets with total redundancy. If a storm knocks out power to one monitoring center, your service can continue without disruption.
Get Help with Your School Security Grants
Safe schools grants, security systems grants and other similarly named programs for improving security in schools are monetary funds, ranging from hundreds to millions of dollars, awarded by government entities or charities to educational facilities meeting pre-approved criteria. These grants are monetary funds designated for physical upgrades to campus security and school safety technology and or systems.
Most safety grants for schools are a source of financial aid with repayment not required. However, educators must ensure that their facility continues to comply with all terms communicated by the grant provider to avoid any possibility of grant provider withdrawing aid or requiring repayment.
Examples of Grants:
- ESSER Funds for School Security
- School Safety Grant Program (SSSG) [search per state]
- Secure our Schools Grant Program
- SRO grants (School Resource Officer) [search per state]
- COPS School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP)
- FEMA Nonprofit Security Grant Program – State (NSGP-S)
- Funding for target hardening & other physical security enhancements/activities to nonprofit organizations at high risk of terrorist attack. Integrates nonprofit preparedness activities with broader state & local preparedness efforts.
- 2024 Funding-= $227.25 million
- State Homeland Security Program (SHSP)
- Provides funding to support implementation of risk-driven, capabilities-based State Homeland Security Strategies to address capability targets.
- 2024 Funding = $373.5 million
Additional Funding Source:
One surprising funding source could be the school’s insurance carrier. While grants are available to schools, they should also consider their insurance carrier.
PASS School Safety and Security Guidelines
PASS Guidelines are the most comprehensive information available on best practices specifically for securing K-12 school facilities, including elementary schools, middle schools and high schools. The PASS School Security Checklist allows you to assess the current state of safety and security efforts in your school or district compared to nationwide best practices.
At SEICO Security, we are passionate about equipping schools to remain a safe space for our kids to learn. For more information about grant funding or which AI weapons detector is right for your school or district, speak with a member of our team of security experts by filling out our contact form.
