Student says she was ‘uncomfortable’ being randomly picked for security screening

CHARLOTTE — There are new concerns surrounding random security screenings at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools.

[ALSO READ: Teen accused of shooting, killing classmate at Butler HS pleads guilty]

Some students said they want to know more about how classrooms are chosen over others, and why only select groups are screened instead of the entire student body.

A Butler High School student contacted Channel 9 after her school was put on a modified lockdown for a random screening. The student did not want to be identified.

“I would prefer for metal detectors to be at the door upon entry, and everybody have to do it, instead of singling out certain students to have to do it,” said the student. “You could do one hallway and then someone in the next hallway may have a gun. But how do you know if you haven’t searched that hallway?”

She told reporter Erika Jackson classes are selected at random. Students in her class had to walk through a metal detector and her jacket set off the alarm. The student said she was singled out and searched again with a metal detecting wand.

“I knew that it was going to happen for me. It just felt really uncomfortable and embarrassing,” she said.

[ALSO READ: Teen accused of killing classmate inside Butler HS bonds out of jail]

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools told Channel 9 the district looked at screening schools at the beginning of the school day, but CMS staff found it would take away from time in the classroom. With the random screening, the district said students are informed prior to their class being screened. Part of the screening involves students walking through a metal detector. If the metal detector goes off, the student is asked to walk through again.

The district believes that random searches can protect everyone’s safety and education. However, not everyone agrees.

“It’s uncomfortable, intense and it is needed to keep us safe, but I feel like it could be done better,” said the student.

[RECENT COVERAGE: CMS high school students to start wearing clear backpacks soon]

A deadly shooting happened on Oct. 29, 2018, at Butler High, which led to the heightened security in the district.

(Watch the video below: Arranged fight between Butler High School students leads to shooting, sources say)

Arranged fight between Butler High School students leads to shooting, sources say

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