Barren County Schools’ board of education on Thursday will consider a policy to make hand-held metal detectors available for use in the district’s schools.

Superintendent Bo Matthews said the goal is to allow school administrators to use the devices if they deem it necessary. He suggested they could be used at school events or even randomly as a deterrent.

“We’re trying to find a new normal,” Matthews said, adding the district wants to give administrators another tool to promote school safety.

The new policy is part of the district’s broader effort to improve its approach to school safety.

The district is also working with the Barren County Sheriff’s Office to add more school resource officers. Matthews said employing a full-time officer at each of its 10 school buildings would present a significant financial cost for the district.

But next school year, Matthews said the district will employ four officers and plans to add to them with the ultimate goal of having one officer in each school building.

The school district will also pilot an emergency communication smartphone app called Mayday. The app allows users to send alerts from their location and call for help if needed.

Matthews said he was introduced to the app by state Rep. Steve Riley, R-Glasgow.

Matthews said other school districts are testing the app. The district has already started organizing meetings and training sessions to implement the app, he said.

When asked if the district was responding to any particular school threat, Matthews said the changes are a reaction to events across the nation.

In January, 15-year-old students Bailey Nicole Holt and Preston Ryan Cope were killed at Marshall County High School when a classmate opened fire, injuring 18 other people.

Kentucky schools also experienced a wave of threats that escalated after a school shooting in Florida killed 17 people.

“We live in a great community, but we can’t think for a moment that something evil couldn’t happen in one of our schools,” Matthews said.

– Follow education reporter Aaron Mudd on Twitter @BGDN_edbeat or visit bgdailynews.com.