KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- The Knox County Schools superintendent and the Knox County School Board are still discussing the best ways to make schools safer more than a month after a 15-year-old was shot and killed at Central High School.
Anyone on school property could be subject to a random search to hopefully prevent another weapon from being brought onto school property.
Concerned mother April Farmer says her daughter is still in diapers, but soon she'll be hitting the books.
“I would definitely not want her to have to be scared going to school, just needs to be there and focus on her education so she can be the best person she can possibly be."
That is why Farmer wants to see random searches in Knox County Schools.
Farmer says, “I'm for it. It definitely needs to happen. When I was in school I didn't have to fear for my life, just going to school was a routine thing, there to learn."
Knox County Schools Superintendent Dr. Jim McIntyre thinks random searches will serve as a preventative measure against weapons.
Dr. McIntyre says, "We're working with the Board and the Law Director's office to make sure we have a policy in place that gives us an important security tool while balancing that with Fourth Amendment rights and other rights."
Currently the school system only performs searches when there's something suspicious, but the new policy would allow for random searches at any school or school event.
Dr. McIntyre says, “I think the random search concept can be a very strong deterrent to make sure students who might consider bringing a weapon to school are given pause and don't do it."
Sue Strader supports the idea of random searches. She says, "Put it in perspective for them that they're being watched."
The searches could include lockers, backpacks, clothing, and even cars on school property.
Dr. McIntyre says, "The idea is that we will have a team of folks, our Knox County schools security personnel, will also include participation from our partners in Law Enforcement."
Strader says, “I have two grown boys and I have a grandson, and I wouldn't have objected at any time to random searching."
The potential policy on random searches goes before the Knox County Board of Education Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. on first reading. It has to make it through a second reading to become a new school policy.
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