- Allentown School District and the city officials to host a community safety forum
- A gun was found on a male student earlier this week
- The district is considering metal detectors
ALLENTOWN, Pa. - The Allentown School District plans to seek community input on new security measures after a student at Allen High School was arrested with a loaded gun. A community safety forum hosted by the school district and the city of Allentown is scheduled for Oct. 10 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Allen High School.
"It will take the collective commitment and support from all stakeholders to keep safety at the forefront and keep violence and weapons out of our schools.”ASD Superintendent Carol Birks
“The Allentown School District is committed to creating an environment where all members of our learning community feel safe, valued, empowered, and loved,” Superintendent Carol Birks said. “However, it will take the collective commitment and support from all stakeholders to keep safety at the forefront and keep violence and weapons out of our schools.”
A news release from the Allentown Police Department said a 15-year-old male was charged with a felony count of carrying a firearm without a license, as well as misdemeanor charges for having a gun as a minor and possessing a gun on school property. He also faces drug charges.
Mayor Matt Tuerk said in a statement that district officials reached out to his office following Monday's incident.
"My team met with ASD for a highly productive meeting, where we collaborated to develop a plan of action that underscores the city and the district's shared commitment to the safety and well-being of Allentown's young people," the statement said.
One of the security measures being considered is metal detectors.
Back in June, a school board agenda included a request for the approval of a contract with AR Technology Solutions that would have added weapon detection devices at all of the Allentown high schools. The agenda item, which was not considered or acted upon, would have added 10 units for Allen, plus 20 handheld wands. Dieruff would have gotten six units plus 12 wands and Building 21 would have gotten three units plus six wands.
Exhibit E - Weapons Detection by LehighValley Newsdotcom on Scribd
The memorandum, dated June 8, 2023, said there had been two guns and six knives found at Dieruff High School and one gun and 18 knives found at Allen High School. There was no information for Building 21.
