CLARK COUNTY, Ind. (WHAS11) -- Hand-held metal detectors are making their way into Indiana schools, as part of a new safety planned announced by Governor Eric Holcomb last week.
"A school is like a church. It's like a movie theater; it's like a mall - a place that you want folks to feel safe," said South Harrison Community Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Eastridge.
He is adding his district to the list of a state-wide program that will put hand-held metal detectors in schools.
"I think this is part of a larger debate. School metal detectors are simply one piece of the puzzle of school security," he said.
Dr. Eastridge says the district's two high schools already use the wands, but he's wanting them in the other six school buildings. He's requested 10 and expects them in mid-August.
"We really appreciate what the governor has done in terms of making this commitment to safety," said Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrew Melin.
Dr. Melin also wants in on the technology, but he has questions about how to best use the wands and the training behind them for a district with 10,000 students.
"The bigger issue will be how will we, in fact, how are we going to implement that that's realistic," he said.
New Albany Floyd County Schools are also considering adding the wands and school board Lee Ann Wiseheart tells us, "Any initiative designed to enhance school safety is of the utmost importance. I appreciate Governor Holcomb offering this security measure and I'm equally appreciative that NAFC has a superintendent who promptly embraced this opportunity."