INGLEWOOD : District to Seek OK to Add Metal Detectors at Schools

Inglewood schools Supt. George J. McKenna said Friday that he has reluctantly decided to ask the school board to approve metal detectors at high schools and junior high schools in an effort to keep guns off campuses.

“I’m offended by the need to use metal detectors,” McKenna said, “but I’m realistic enough to believe that I have to have them, given the state of the times.”

School officials said guns have been confiscated and students expelled for carrying them. Figures were not available Friday.

Board member Thomasina Reed said school officials first began discussing the need for metal detectors after the recent shooting deaths of two students on Los Angeles high school campuses. And last week two Inglewood basketball stars were arrested when police found two guns, one loaded, in the car in which they were driving. A 14-year-old was also in the car. McKenna declined to discuss the case.

McKenna said he will ask the board of the Inglewood Unified School District at its April 14 meeting to approve a metal detector policy being developed along with the district’s police force.