Smithfield High School students who arrived by bus on April 2 were greeted by the sight of two scanners lining the rear drop-off entrance.

The devices, made by Hudson, Ohio-based CEIA USA,  are similar to the walk-through metal detectors used at courthouses but are designed to speed up the screening process by distinguishing weapons and other contraband from keys, jewelry and other harmless metallic objects.

Two additional weapon detection scanners lining the front entrance made their debut two weeks earlier to screen students arriving by car. According to Isle of Wight County Schools officials, the scanners were able to screen hundreds of students within 32 minutes on March 19, and by March 20, the wait time had decreased to 23 minutes.

Outside each school are signs warning what items students should remove from their backpacks, such as eyeglass cases, three-ring binders and laptops, to avoid setting off the alarms.

The rollout comes two years after Isle of Wight County’s School Board first discussed purchasing weapon detection systems for its high schools. Isle of Wight County Schools had purchased eight devices – four for each high school – at the start of the school year.

Windsor High, the smaller of the two high schools, had its own rollout six months earlier in October.

“When we first rolled it out, our times were averaging roughly 25 minutes at the bus entrance and approximately 35 minutes at the front entrance for the student drivers and parent drop-off,” IWCS security and emergency management specialist Jason Brinkley told the School Board in a November update.

Within a month of the devices’ debut at WHS, wait times had dropped to under five minutes at the bus entrance and 15 minutes at the front doors, he said.

It takes longer to screen students arriving by car, he said, because arrival times are staggered, while students who take the bus all arrive at the same time.

In an IWCS-produced video demonstrating the devices, Brinkley said one of the reasons the school division chose CEIA USA is because the devices are portable, allowing them to be used not only at the start of the school day but also to screen attendees at football games and other school events.

IWCS officials say Smithfield High, despite having over 1,300 students to screen compared to Windsor’s 508, has seen a smoother rollout so far.

“A key factor in this success was an in-house informational video that clearly explained the process,” IWCS spokeswoman Lynn Briggs said. “Using examples from Windsor High, we demonstrated the procedures students would need to follow when passing through the system. The principal shared this video with students and families ahead of time, ensuring everyone was well prepared for the rollout.”

Throughout the rollout at both schools, “students have been understanding and respectful, which has contributed greatly to the smooth transition,” Briggs said. “We appreciate the collaboration and patience of our school community in making this a successful implementation. Their cooperation and positive attitude have played a vital role in ensuring a safe and efficient entry process at Smithfield High.”

Now IWCS is looking to expand its use of the devices to its two middle schools. The School Board’s 2025-26 budget and capital improvements plan for one-time expenses calls for $180,000 to purchase eight additional screeners – four for Smithfield Middle School and another four for Georgie D. Tyler Middle School.

The scanners aren’t just for students. They’ll also be used to screen visitors. The budget also includes funding for two additional school security officers to help operate the scanners.