PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Public Schools Board of Education voted down a new security system Monday night that would include metal detectors at Peoria, Manual, and Richwoods high schools.
The system, called Evolv, also includes an x-ray system to check students’ bags, and advanced software that can detect different types of weapons.
Evolv was tested at Richwoods High School for several days in May. It initially costs $121,000 a year to rent and utilize the software.
Three of PPS’ seven board members voted against the expenditure Monday night, and the motion failed.
Board member Brenda Wilson was in favor of approving the contract, saying the cost is worth students’ safety.
“It’s $32.33 per student to not have a gun go into the school, so when you look at it like that, that we’re going to spend $32.33 to make sure guns aren’t getting into school with our babies, it’s a no-brainer,” Wilson said.
Board members voting no said they’d asked for information comparing Evolv to other security systems at their last meeting, but didn’t receive it. Members who voted in favor of the system and the board secretary said an email with the information was sent to every board member last Friday.
“Unfortunately, some people are privy to information I’m not privy to,” board member Larry Ivory said. “Therefore, my unwillingness to vote on this is just due to the fact that I am privy to the data that’s here, so I won’t be voting for it.”
Superintendent Dr. Sharon Demoulin-Kherat told the board ahead of their vote that the principals of Richwoods, Peoria and Manual high schools asked for the Evolv contract to be approved for this school year.
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