The teachers' union in Youngstown is sounding an alarm after weapons were brought into schools two times within five days.

They want the school district to begin using the technology it already has available to send a strong message that weapons are not allowed in city schools.

The concerns stem from two incidents:

February 13, 2024, a 3rd grade student was caught with a knife by a teacher at Harding Elementary.

Thursday, February 8th an 11-year-old East Middle School Student brought a loaded gun to school.

This has the Youngstown Education Association calling on the administration to do more to use the technology it has, to stop students from bringing weapons into schools.

"I would think after you have a gun brought in one of your schools, you would at a minimum have a metal detector out the next day, have some bag checks, and have it out to at least send a message," YEA President Eric Teutsch said. "I believe they should do it daily."

Teutsch says that to his knowledge the board isn't using the screening technology.

He says in his opinion the district dodged a bullet since mental health issues, and gun problems, along with mass shootings, and school shootings are nationwide and unprecedented.


Superintendent Jeremy Batchelor says the district has plans in place and they have worked.

But the Union is asking the district to use the metal detectors they have, implement the use of clear backpacks, and take more preventative actions saying safer students learn better.

"It's lucky somebody spoke up, it's lucky somebody saw something. What are you going to do when the luck runs out? Eventually, luck will run out," Teutsch said.

A School Board member says the Chief of School Security will review its safety plans.

"We are going to look at a comprehensive plan and go from there based on recommendation," School Board Member Joe Meranto said.

Teutsch tells 21 News students shouldn't have to worry. They learn better when they are not worried someone is going to shoot them and their classmates.

"How many weapons have made it into our schools we don't know about," Teutsch said. "It's the opinion of the Youngstown Education Association the district needs to do more, needs to start doing more given what's happened recently...Send a message that you're not going to get past the threshold of any of our doors if you're carrying a weapon."