DARIEN, IL – Hinsdale South High School plans to use its weapons detection system every day until at least the Thanksgiving break, an official said Thursday.
This was after authorities said a small-frame pistol was discovered during a student’s routine visit to the dean’s office late Thursday morning. (School officials are only saying a weapon was found; Darien police identified it as a pistol.)
After the incident, the school was put on a “hold in place” for a short time, meaning students stayed in class without changing rooms.
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“No students or staff were ever in any sort of danger from the moment we received this information,” Hinsdale High School District 86 Superintendent Michael Lach told the school board. “But it’s scary, it’s complicated.”
He said the district would keep talking with Darien police to figure out the best security solution.
Find out what's happening in Darienwith free, real-time updates from Patch.
“In this case, it appears this was a very limited special situation, not a good one by any stretch. But this seems to be very narrow in scope,” Lach said. “There’s already misinformation on social media, trying to turn that into a divisive thing for our community.”
Last year, the school board decided to spend $160,000 on nine towers that serve as weapons detection systems.
Click Here: cardiff blues rugby jersey
At the time, officials said the equipment would be used for sports and other activities and circumstances such as a credible threat requiring another layer of security.
The district’s then-security director explained why it should not be used daily.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.