ANTIOCH, Tenn. — In the aftermath of a deadly shooting at Antioch High School on Wednesday, parents, officials, and the broader community are raising questions about the effectiveness of safety measures in place across Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS). With the tragedy still fresh, many are calling for the full implementation of metal detectors at every school in the district. However, MNPS has confirmed that stationary metal detectors were not set up at Antioch High School, and there is no protocol requiring students to walk through metal detectors on a daily basis.
Currently, the district uses metal detectors primarily for large events such as football games, but not as part of routine school security. The lack of daily metal detection has drawn sharp criticism from concerned parents, some of whom have taken action in the wake of the shooting.
Athrea Shlemon, a mother with a daughter attending an MNPS high school, voiced her support for metal detectors at all schools, stating that the cost of such security measures should not be an obstacle. “Our children are the future and they’re more important than anybody,” Shlemon remarked. “I know metal detectors are expensive, but we have thousands and thousands of children that attend these schools. There’s plenty of ways you can do it. They’re putting them everywhere else—courthouses, stadiums.”
Shlemon, along with other parents, decided to keep their children home from school on Thursday following the Antioch High School shooting, citing safety concerns. “What is it really coming to?” she added, expressing fear about the climate of fear that is growing among students and parents alike.
In response to the mounting pressure, MNPS Superintendent Dr. Adrienne Battle addressed the safety concerns, emphasizing the district’s commitment to evaluating existing security measures. However, she also noted the potential unintended consequences of implementing metal detectors at every school. “There are lots of unintended consequences, mainly when you think about the types of learning environments we want for our students,” Battle explained. “The first person we want our students to interact with are their principals and their teachers and their fellow students.”
Battle also highlighted the limitations of metal detectors, acknowledging that no system is foolproof. “We also know that there is no system that is 100% going to capture everything that a person may have on them,” she said, referring to the challenges in detecting firearms, particularly when the shooter is in a location where detection systems are not properly aligned.
The investigation into the Antioch High School shooting is ongoing, with local officials still working to understand how the gunman was able to enter the school undetected. Metro Councilmember David Benton, who represents Antioch, cautioned against jumping to conclusions about potential changes to security protocols at this early stage of the investigation. “We’ve got to take a deeper look,” Benton stated. “I don’t know what those answers will be yet, because we don’t know where the hole in the fence was.”
Meanwhile, MNPS Chief of Communications and Technology, Sean Braisted, revealed that the shooter was in an area of the school where cameras linked to the district’s weapons detection system were unable to clearly identify the firearm. The alarm was eventually triggered by the Metro Nashville Police Department, highlighting both the limitations of the current system and the need for a thorough review.
As the investigation continues, many are left questioning how best to balance safety and the educational environment. While the tragic event has spurred a renewed focus on metal detectors, it remains uncertain whether such measures will become a permanent fixture in the district’s security plan or if other solutions will be explored.
In the coming weeks, MNPS officials are expected to continue assessing their safety protocols and engage with parents, law enforcement, and other stakeholders to find ways to enhance security while preserving the open, supportive environment that schools strive to provide for students.
