Local schools have the opportunity to add another level of security this fall by requesting free handheld metal detectors from the state.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday a new state-funded program to purchase the devices so schools can have one metal detector wand for every 250 students enrolled this fall.

Holcomb did not provide details on how the state would pay for the devices.

School officials have until July 19 to apply for the metal detectors to ensure they are ordered in time for delivery in August. Any school that does not meet the deadline can be part of a second purchase later this fall, according to a news release from the governor’s office.

Seymour Community School Corp. Superintendent Rob Hooker said there is very little time for school officials and communities to discuss the option.

“It really sparks more questions than answers because (the state) will need to issue guidelines, and it comes down to who can use these and who are we going to use them on?” Hooker said.

With a school board meeting scheduled for Tuesday night, Hooker said trustees will need to decide at that time if they want to submit a request. Seymour’s enrollment would make it eligible for 16 metal detectors.

Hooker said there are a lot of questions about the legalities of stopping and frisking people and what to do if something is found. But he sees the state’s gesture as a good one.

“I think it’s a genuine offer to help, and the governor is trying to choose some right things to do at this time,” he said.

Holcomb’s decision comes in response to increased concerns about school safety in Indiana from school officials and parents after a school shooting in May at Noblesville West Middle School. That incident left a student and a teacher with serious injuries.

“Unfortunately, we live in a time when every school must prepare to respond to someone who might hurt themselves or others on school grounds,” Holcomb said. “As I listen to Hoosiers all across our state, I hear more and more that people have deeply held opinions of the level and type of security they want in place for their own schools.”

Greg Walker, superintendent of Brownstown Central Community School Corp., said based on enrollment, they will be requesting six metal detector wands, or two for each building.

“I think that this is a good move by the state with the current climate of our country,” Walker said.

Brownstown Central High School already utilizes one handheld metal detector.

“It will be nice to have them at each building,” Walker said.

The devices will be used by administrators, he said.

“They will be used on an as-needed basis when we have reasonable suspicions to check someone,” he said.

There have been a couple of incidents in recent years in which guns were found on students at Brownstown Central High School. Similar incidents have not been reported at any of other schools in the county.

Hooker said he has been in contact with the corporation’s legal counsel in Indianapolis to determine what the corporation needs to do legally to use metal detectors.

“We just don’t know how this will work yet,” he said. “Are we going to wand kindergartners? Has society gotten to that point? Policies and procedures will have to be written on how to do this, and it’s going to take a lot of time.”

But he said he would rather have the wands now and not need them than need them but have to wait six months for the second purchase.

Although he knows it’s more expensive than metal detectors, Hooker said the best options for Seymour would be for the state to give schools more money for school resource officers.

Holcomb said the devices will help schools control what is brought into buildings and is an important part of keeping schools safe.

“Our efforts to assist school corporations must be ongoing and evolving,” he said. “Local officials are best positioned to determine their school safety needs and the measures that make sense for the students and communities, and for many, these handheld metal detectors could make a substantial difference.”

A school safety committee convened by Holcomb in April is expected to release more recommendations in August that include increased mental health services for students and building security.