Mayor Willie Herenton held a news conference Wednesday, February 13, 2008, to address the recent school shootings occurring at Memphis City Schools.
Herenton says he wants metal detectors in every middle and high school and for them to be used every day. The Memphis City School board has previously released the results of a study on the cost of metal detectors - a study which states it would cost about $4.5 million to use detectors in schools every day. When asked how the cost would be handled, Herenton's reply was "taxpayers".
Herenton said it is unacceptable to say it costs too much to place metal detectors in schools and wants to immediately purchase 65 walk-through detectors and 210 handheld detectors, along with additional security equipment.
Herenton also announced a partnership between the Memphis Police Department and the Shelby County Sheriff's Office that would tackle the problem of crime and violence in schools. Herenton called for 67 officers to be deployed to Memphis City Schools and the officers would initally be focused on 25 high schools and seven middle and junior high schools. He wants $500,000 allocated immediately to cover costs. He also wants Memphis Police officers to continue to patrol school campuses during and after school.
Herenton said it is the city's responsibility to keep people safe, including in schools, citing that students are not only in danger, but teachers as well. Herenton also said parenting sessions will begin in selected community centers to teach parents of danger signs in their children.
Herenton says he plans to meet with MCS Interim Superintendent Dan Ward to discuss an immediate action plan.
On Wednesday, a 14 year-old student at Lester Elementary was arrested when school administrators found an unloaded gun in his backpack. On Monday, a senior at Mitchell High School was shot three times by another student in the cafeteria of the school. On Monday, February 4, a Hamilton High School student was shot in the leg after he and another student argued over a rap song, and in October 2007, a student accidentally shot his friend who said the gun fired by mistake when he pulled it out of his backpack.
Memphis Board of Education President Tomeka Hart issued a statement shortly after the Mayor's news conference.
"We are deeply grateful for the much-needed assistance with school safety
issues being offered by Mayor Herenton. The safety of city school students
and staff members must be addressed, and we have long felt that the issue
is much larger than can be handled effectively by teachers, principals and
other staff members, who are working hard at their primary jobs – educating
the young people of this city.
The assistance that Mayor Herenton has announced – such as additional metal
detectors and more CO-ACT police officers – and any other assistance that
may be forthcoming once discussions are underway, will surely help us to
curb the safety issues in our schools. The Mayor is correct in that our
charge at Memphis City Schools is to advance academic achievement, and
schools must be safe in order for that to happen.
Safety – whether at schools or on the streets and in the neighborhoods – is
a concern for all citizens, and we applaud the Mayor’s help as, together,
we seek real solutions. By working together, we believe that we can see
positive changes made for the safety of our schools, and we look forward to
meeting with the Mayor and his staff on this crucial issue."
