Kelly school district shows commitment to helping keep students safe
BENTON, Mo. (KBSI) — A generous anonymous donation has provided the Kelly School District with a new AI powered gun detection camera system, helping school safety and offering an extra layer of safety for students and staff.
The system, powered by InSpace AI technology, uses artificial intelligence to detect firearms including handguns and long guns, based on visual recognition rather than metal detectors. The goal is to identify potential threats earlier and respond more quickly in the event of an emergency.
“Early detection is very important,” said Lee Dodd, the district’s School Resource Officer. “We prepare for the worst and hope for the best, pray for the best.”
Superintendent Dr. Bradley Kolwyck says the system creates a major step forward in safety at the school.
“It’s an AI-based system designed to detect firearms, not just the material they’re made of like metal detectors do, but the actual shape and presence of weapons,” Kolwyck said. “This allows for quicker alerts, faster lockdowns, and immediate response from first responders.”
Kolwyck says that in a rural area like southeastern Missouri, response times can be longer than in a city settings, early detection can mean everything. He said the district has made many safety investments in recent years.
“With all of our investments in the last few years for school safety, we felt like this was the missing piece that would help us have a layered approach,” Kolwyck said.
Both staff and students have responded positively to the new system, happy with a stronger sense of security.
“We believe that our faculty, staff, and students are feeling safer in our buildings,” Kolwyck said. “Not that we felt we were a dangerous campus to begin with, but in today’s world with potential school threats frequently in the news, we’re committed to taking every step possible.”
The Kelly School District plans to continue exploring advanced safety measures to working towards the safest school for all.
