WARREN — The Warren Board of Education approved by a 3-1 vote a new weapon-detector system for each school building and select related school facilities.

Board members John Fowley, Patricia Limperos and Julian Walker voted Tuesday for proceeding with purchasing the security check open gate system units at $278,792 from CEIA USA.

Board member Jenna Daugherty cast the “no” vote. Board member Regina Patterson was absent.

Before the vote, Thomas McDermott, school safety and security sales manager with CEIA, explained and showed how the units work.

He said students, school staff and visitors simply walk between two decorative poles that scan for any weapons, such as guns and knives.

“Students can easily and quickly go single file through the detectors. The detectors will make people aware if there is an issue. The goal is to prevent weapons from coming into a school,” he said — indicating he can check 3,600 people per hour.

THE SYSTEM

John Lacy, executive director of business operations for the school district, said the equipment is not a metal detector but a weapons detector.

McDermott said the units are easy to move to different locations, and in addition to being placed inside the entrance of schools, they also can be used at sporting events, school dances, graduations or community events.

He said CEIA has the units at national football games, airports and amusement parks, as well as with the Department of Defense and the Secret Service.

McDermott said unlike a metal detector, the weapons detectors can be made decorative in school colors or decorated for holidays.

“They don’t look like a traditional metal detector and require less staff,” he said.

Fowley said the goal is to keep students and staff safe by checking everyone who comes into a school building.

Daugherty said she went to Warren schools and her children currently attend school. She said she has always felt safe and her children are safe with safety measures currently in place.

Board members and school officials said with the growing number of mass shootings across the nation, including at schools, and laws that allow open carrying of guns, these measures are necessary.

“It is the times we are living in that warrant us having these on hand,” Walker said.

Limperos said previously, bolo sticks were placed on doors to keep them closed so no one could get in.

“This is another layer to keep our students safe,” she said.