Hancock County Schools to receive new shooter alert system
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NEW CUMBERLAND - Hancock County Schools will be the first school district in West Virginia to implement a shooter alert system.
The initiative was officially announced during Monday's meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education, with officials noting installation of the system will be in the works over the next few months and be available in each of the district's eight school facilities.
"This project has been in the works for a couple years," explained Hancock County Schools Superintendent Walter Saunders.
The system is being made possible through a $600,000 grant, established in 2025 by Del. Pat McGeehan, R-Hancock, with Saunders noting the funds had been approved by the West Virginia Department of Education on behalf of Hancock County Schools with the paperwork officially signed Monday.
"The money is now in our care," Saunders said.
McGeehan, who was in attendance at Monday's meeting, explained the idea for the project began in 2024 after reconnecting with an Air Force Academy classmate who had developed a similar system, many of which are now available commercially, and an effort began to look into what types of setups would be beneficial to West Virginia.
"Different sensors are placed in the facilities," McGeehan said, explaining they will be installed throughout each building, as well as at each building's entrance.
The system features a combination of infrared sensors and "passive listener" sensors which are programmed with the sounds of between 5,000 and 6,000 types of weapons fire.
In the event gunfire is detected, the systems are set to send an alert within three seconds to law enforcement and school district officials to allow for immediate action. McGeehan explained in situations of active shooters, most of the casualties or injuries occur within the first few minutes.
"The technology is designed to cut down that lead time," he said.
School Board President Jeff Woofter said he also wants to make certain the system can include a "panic button" in the event school personnel do see suspicious activity ahead of any potential shooting situation and need to alert law enforcement.
Notification to others within the school system also will be key, Woofter, a former educator and Hancock County sheriff, said.
"I hope we put the alerts out, not just to law enforcement, but all personnel in the schools," Woofter said, noting such notification can speed up the process of locking down a campus, if necessary.
McGeehan said, while he is glad to see the system being installed in Hancock County Schools, he also hopes they never have to see it actively being used.
"It's one of a kind. Hancock County will be the first to receive this," he said, offering thanks to Uriah Cummings and Jeff Kelley of the West Virginia Department of Education for their assistance in implementing the grant program.
McGeehan said one of his goals for the next legislative session is to figure out a program to make systems such as this more affordable to ensure they are, eventually, in all of the state's school systems.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)