YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio -  As students return to school in Youngstown, they're part of a new era for the district.

Students arrived at East High School and Chaney High School to new, innovative academic programs, and they will also have to adhere to new, advanced security measures.

Metal detectors just like what you would see at an airport are now a part of the advanced security measures in place at every Youngstown City School.  In the past, random security checks were made, but full scale metal detectors were not a part of the security plan.

But Emontae Mendenhall, a junior at East High School, isn't happy about all aspects of the security checks, "We've got to carry see through book bags and see through purses.  So I think that it is an invasion of privacy.  I'm not too worried about the metal detectors, but the other is definitely an invasion, it's just stupid to do that."

East High Senior Robert Thompkins said, "It makes me feel safer to come in to school."

Parent Sylvia Dixon says, for her, the metal dectectors and law enforcement presence are piece of mind, knowing that zero tolerance and safety are the first lessons of every school day, "Whatever they can do to keep the kids safe.  I don't want to hear an incident go down and maybe it could have been avoided."

East High School Principal Holly Seimetz says the idea is that by making students feel safe, they can focus on what's most important; their education.