Schenectady high school weapons detection system update after one week of implementation

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) --The start of school in 2025 for the Schenectady City School District included some big changes. Wednesday marks the first full week since the weapons detection system was installed and implemented at Schenectady high school. The superintendent spoke with NEWS10 about the transition that included lengthy delays at the start.

“The sixth [January 6] was our first soft launch to the implementation. I would say that particular day was heavy,” explained Schenectady City School District Superintendent, Dr. Carlos Cotto Jr.

The superintendent says the times have drastically reduced from the first day when students missed the entire first period. He explains the reduction day by day saying, “I would tell you 20 minutes on that first day, 40 minutes on the next. And right now, we're stating when it's heavy, we're looking at 15 minutes for students to get into the building.”

He says when checking nearly 1200 students on a regular day, bus drop offs are causing the most congestion, “We will have a way in which to kind of create a flow of drops that are going to allow for that traffic. You know, as soon as they come off the bus to be a little more seamless.”

As continued use reduces delays entering the building, NEWS10’s Reporter James De La Fuente asked how the weapons detection part of the system was working. A spokesperson with the school district said, "A couple dozen items not allowed in school were kept out since the implementation.  Most of them were items put in the boxes before students passed through the scanner."

Dr. Cotto Jr. says like the airport where all things must be placed in a bin to go through the scanner, kids must also follow a similar process at the high school. He reminds kids to be, “Keeping all their belongings in their bag. So that way, as they do come to the building, it kind of moves things a lot quicker.”

 The superintendent would also like parents to help keep things timely, as well. “8:10 a.m. at the latest is when we want them to be at the doors. So that way there's a reasonable amount of time to get them to the classroom, to their classrooms on time,” said Cotto Jr.

And for those parents who feared the weapons detection system would have a negative effect on students, Dr. Cotto Jr. said, “We're creating that welcoming environment for our students as they come into the building.”