By Mike Hutchens, UC Schools Communications Director
Safety for all is paramount at Union City Schools.
And being proactive rather than reactive will always be a priority.
The latest example of those two philosophies can be found in the UC School System’s recent decision to randomly employ portable metal detectors at Union City High School, UC Middle School, and almost all school-related sporting events.
The decision by school administration is viewed as a deterrent to potential future issues and will serve as another layer of security for students, fans, and visitors, reinforcing the policies and procedures already in place at UC Schools.
Continuing the theme of safety and security for all, the system is also in the process of upgrading its camera systems at all three campuses, adding 18 cameras in all.
“The safety and well-being of our students and any visitors we might have on campus at any time is of utmost importance to Union City Schools,” top-level school administrators said in a joint announcement. “Every child, educator, and visitor deserves to feel safe on our school grounds, and this will help us raise the likelihood of that.
“This (metal detectors) simply adds an additional layer of safety to our schools and school-related events. “It’s similar to what is done at stadiums, concert venues, and theme parks, and has proven to have a high rate of success as far as deterring any potential issues.
“Rather than being reactive, we’ve chosen to be proactive when addressing any potential issues. It’s an act of safety and accountability, and it’s good common sense in today’s world.”
Though not daily, the metal detectors will be randomly put in place at school entrances at UCHS and the middle school on an unannounced weekly basis. The high school has three of the detectors, while the middle school will have two.
Operation and management of the metal detectors will be overseen by school administrators and school resource officers.
The decision will piggyback on previous security measures that saw UC Schools install entry-resistant security tape over the windows of each school entry two years ago, at a cost of $40,000.
An attendance policy instituted this year at all high school basketball games, requiring students under 13 to be accompanied by an adult, has also been part of an upgraded security detail.
“We now live in an era where there is no stigma attached to the use of metal detectors – it’s more a matter of ‘why not,’ rather than ‘why,” school officials said. “We’ve collected data from other school systems in the area who’ve began using the detectors and have also gotten initial reviews of others, and it’s all been positive.
“In the end, we simply want to provide the safest environment possible for Union City Schools and our visitors.”
A “trial run” for the metal detectors will be held in the late spring, with the electronic devices installed regularly at entry points and events at the beginning of the 2026-27 school year.