CMS selects next round of schools to undergo new security screenings

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District randomly selected the next schools that will undergo new security screenings.

The district selected 10 high schools on Monday. It’s unclear when the second round of screenings will start.

[PAST COVERAGE: No weapons found as CMS continues new security screenings at randomly selected high schools]

Officials pooled from the 19 more traditional high schools plus four smaller high school programs on other campuses.

Olympic, South Mecklenburg, Independence, West Mecklenburg, Harding University, Mallard Creek, Garinger and Rocky River have already been subject to screenings.

Officials said no deadly weapons were found, but one can of pepper spray was confiscated.

So far, the district has only used the classroom method, which means classrooms are selected and all students there are screened.

There are two other models officials plan to use in the future, screening an entire school and screening all students inside a select building.

[PAST COVERAGE: CMS to begin testing new security measures at 'randomly' selected high school]

On Monday, a district spokesperson said it’s taken an average of 45 to 90 seconds to screen each student with the classroom method and an hour to screen four classrooms altogether.

“I think what we’ve learned is that our students are extraordinarily gracious. They understand why this is occurring. They are participating well,” said CMS Chief Communications Officer Tracy Russ.

The question did come up as to whether CMS will consider screening middle school students. Officials said it’s not something happening anytime soon, but screenings could be expanded to middle schools at some point.

Cox Media Group