Calls for metal detectors in schools grow after Belleville West gun scare

A week after a loaded gun was found at Belleville West High School, a petition that calls for metal detectors in the district’s schools is still gathering signatures.

On Tuesday, Sept. 16, a Belleville Police Department school resource officer quickly located and seized the firearm and took a student into custody after being alerted by another student about a possible weapon on campus, the police department said in a news release.

Jessica Kile, a Millstadt parent whose daughter attends Belleville West, said she was relieved the incident was resolved swiftly and no one was hurt. Still, she described the discovery as a wake-up call — one made more troubling by the actions of a vigilant student.

“Had the other student not spoken up, would we have even known?” Kile said.

Kile started a petition to install metal detectors at Belleville West and Belleville East High Schools. In less than two weeks, it had garnered more than 300 signatures, and Kile said parents in other districts have expressed interest in launching similar efforts.

“It’s time we take a proactive stance to protect our youth from potential harm,” the petition states. “I urge Belleville Township High School District 201 to prioritize this measure and allocate resources toward metal detector installation, ensuring a secure learning environment for all.”

Kile said she has encountered some resistance, mostly around the logistics of metal detectors at Belleville East and concerns about cost.

She stresses she does not view metal detectors as a “one-size-fits-all” solution and hopes her petition will spark broader discussion on steps to better protect students, both immediately and in the long term.

Noting that other area schools have implemented metal detectors or similar technology provided Kile with an example to follow, she said.

District Response

District 201 Superintendent Marshaun Warren said she has spoken with Kile and is aware of the petition.

Warren said she and school board members plan to discuss campus safety... Any policy changes or funding allocations require board approval.

Specific details about safety procedures must remain confidential ... but added that the administration and school board discuss security throughout the school year.

What metro-east schools have metal detectors?

Granite City and Cahokia’s middle schools and high schools have metal detectors, according to the districts. East St. Louis schools have used metal detectors for over a decade, and they are used at main entrances, district spokesperson Sydney Stigge-Kaufman said.

East St. Louis School District 189 purchased OPENGATE Weapons Detection Systems, which consist of free-standing, portable pillars that students and visitors can walk through with backpacks. Collinsville Community Unit School District 10 has been using OPENGATE Systems for three years, said Superintendent Brad Skertich.

Skertich said a federal COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) grant covered nearly the whole cost of the OPENGATE Systems, and local funds cover the salaries of staff who monitor the systems.

District 189 used district funds to purchase its OPENGATE systems, Stigge-Kaufman said. The district also recently completed a multi-year COPS Grant, which Stigge-Kaufman said it used to purchase additional metal detectors, two-way radios and other security materials and training.

Safety measures at Belleville high schools

The Belleville Police Department credited its close relationship with Belleville Township High School District 201 for last week's quick response.

Police Chief Matt Eiskant said both his department and the school district are careful not to reveal too much about school security plans. He provided a general overview of department collaboration with local schools.

District 201 and District 118, Belleville’s largest elementary and middle school district, are fully staffed with either armed Belleville police officers, armed retired officers, or a mix of both. Other school districts within Belleville city limits have similar resources, Eiskant said.

The constant presence of a school resource officer at Belleville West allowed for an immediate response during last week’s incident, Eiskant said.

Officers also regularly visit Belleville schools when not on duty, walk hallways with students, play basketball, and give safety presentations. Eiskant said these interactions help put students at ease and encourage them to come forward if problems arise. “It’s just as much fun for us as it is for them,” he said.

Belleville police also collaborate with schools on emergency planning and conduct regular reviews after local and national incidents to evaluate what was done well and explore improvements, Eiskant said.

“We’re as prepared as we can possibly be if something happens,” he said.