NY Education Department Reviewing Request to Remove Metal Detectors

A request to remove metal detectors in order to improve school climate at New York City public schools is under review, New York City Department of Education Press Secretary Jason Fink told Sputnik.

NEW YORK (Sputnik) — At least 193 New York City public schools have installed metal detectors, according to a new report released by WNYC, which makes up about one-third of the city’s high school population.

"The Mayor’s School Climate Leadership Team has recommended implementing protocols to improve the scanning process and remove scanners where appropriate," Fink said on Thursday. "The recommendation is under review."

The report found that nearly 50 percent of all African American students in New York City’s public high schools are required to walk through metal detectors.

"Citywide, almost half of black high school students are scanned every day, compared to about 14 percent of white students," WNYC reported on Tuesday.

Moreover, the report found that 62 percent of students attending high school in the New York City borough of the Bronx go through metal detectors, while only 26 percent of high school students in Manhattan do the same.

According to the 2010 US Census, African Americans make up 43.3 percent of the population in the Bronx compared to 12.9 percent in Manhattan.

In October 2014, the New York Post reported that authorities picked up 712 weapons during the 2013-2014 school year.

The two city school buildings with the highest number of recovered weapons during that year were both located in the Bronx, according to the New York City Police Department.

The Mayor’s School Climate Leadership Team was formed in February 2015 under the order of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. It aims to make recommendations on how best to implement discipline reforms and improve school climate throughout New York City public schools.