[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6457882,"mediaKeyId","5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3","parentId",5825655,"title","District staff describe AI-enabled cameras and portable weapon-detection gates; one-time camera upgrade cost cited at $1.8M","audioSeconds",1264,"startMs",3376000,"endMs",4640000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3&start=3376&end=4640","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3/thumbnail_3376000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6457882/Arizona/District-staff-describe-AI-enabled-cameras-and-portable-weapon-detection-gates-one-time-camera-upgrade-cost-cited-at-18M","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457882-c20a6bc241b7a913c5e6d70e9be90093/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055987&Signature=bTlal97o-gwfX~umnNVdwCawkeJqov2zG6lv09x5MTuuHHdYccsEc~wMcSAj7IYbjsT4UiMieFc1ncCtZuVPbj-aNb9wCmNe2Lz11Ul-0fnMSWWltKPFOe2T-dlenteCbkJQyARZS6fQWMwUKdK4Ty~rr6~W3JGs5gdMf5YU6XesXM4UqhGtTLZGVxIkY0qqFMMCyj6w6U-7R62QxVv1dQfLHBzoGGpgLi3ueoQxCaYZppRD2~Db64O8ftzCJ0UbveuikO7ra4ajBlHmGMMXxaaezZ5R1EKqK1jczzJz0sFMDZjrFVXhcQ2a7nQnio4t3iS9R6fdpmblwJvbyhJlkg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tolleson Union High School District","date","2025-09-24T16:56:16.51Z","article","District security and operations staff briefed the Tolleson Union High School District governing board on Sept. 19 about layered safety strategies that combine personnel, training, physical barriers and technology, including AI-capable cameras and portable weapon-detection gates.

Derek Lawson, chief operations officer, framed safety as a combination of five priorities—partnerships, personnel, principal leadership, protocols and property—and described the district’s approach as layered and overlapping. He said the district has added school safety officers, increased security guards, created a dispatch position and appointed a security coordinator to monitor emergency drills and response protocols.

On technology, Lawson said the district upgraded servers and deployed AI-capable software, vape sensors, bathroom “halo” sensors and higher-megapixel cameras across multiple campuses. He provided a net cost for that camera-and-sensor project: \"the net cost of that project for the entire district was around $1,800,000,\" excluding installation and labor; he said sensors comprised roughly 36% of that net cost, cameras 29%, the AI module about 17%, licensing 14% and servers about 4%.

Lawson described portable weapon-detection gates as two lightweight poles and a small table that can be moved to campus entry points or events. He said the gates can be staffed on each side to increase throughput and noted the devices include decorative sleeves that can be customized with school colors and mascots. \"They are extremely portable. They're extremely light,\" Lawson said.

Board members asked about how use of the gates would affect student flow and class schedules; Lawson and staff said site-by-site studies would determine how many gates and staff members would be required and that training and staff participation would be necessary to implement the gates without excessive delays. Several board members emphasized that technology only produces value if district staff are available to act on alerts; the district noted the recent creation of a dispatch position to monitor and respond to real-time alerts.

The presentation included a question about statutory discipline: a board member noted that district policy and state law require expulsion for certain weapons and that detection systems could reduce the number of legal-expulsion cases the board must address. Lawson cautioned that security is not perfect but said layered measures reduce risk and improve response time.

No final procurement vote for weapon-detection gates was taken at the meeting; Lawson said the district had not yet issued a purchase order for gates and that exact costs for weapon-detection hardware would be provided in a future procurement discussion.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TUHSD Board Meeting 9/23/2025","oneSentenceSummary","District security and operations staff briefed the Tolleson Union High School District governing board on Sept. 19 about layered safety strategies that combine personnel, training, physical barriers and technology, including AI-capable cameras and portable weapon-detection gates.","taxTitle","Tolleson Union High School District (4288), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",64155,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6457886,"Residents, educators voice concern about proposed district office and resource gaps at Tolleson meeting",244,2365000,2609000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3&start=2365&end=2609","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3/thumbnail_2365000.jpg","/articles/6457886/Arizona/Residents-educators-voice-concern-about-proposed-district-office-and-resource-gaps-at-Tolleson-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457886-1fdd42b9298f08472762d8b4fd7efb28/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055987&Signature=K9ud-H7RxR6dEJMttmRny2wFM~EPo1enyREqAgE94YLz5yE55QQ1CF3cXJJgUzPjPNs1LCPs2AG6IeO3ne1yj-u8FGlA5QNzbUhy5zqFJ2665uqciQGXu7G6FJAuev5g4p~bwP~rwCzsqCtNFLzNpkKGTeUxJxJHekOZfutq5gXBex5UC3CnYBJqTbvK9UgzBzUzGsnHmo1rLjvLOoJCvAVJYeUInvidr~ShYmCCYJOPD2dF-K7QhRcTzvGGRdCjhr3NLQFGWNUjFMfnDo1fVigjtV~vbOmaoSIClCpKKeWPgv4OAVpzEk14n~G~gYhSzyCHK83msbuBajOyhG7OPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple public speakers at the Tolleson Union High School District meeting on Sept. 19 urged the board to prioritize spending on classrooms and student services rather than a proposed new district office or large capital projects.

Catherine Lopez, who identified herself as a local parent, said moving the district office and opening a new campus would estrange the community and leave current student needs unmet. \"How will expanding or enlarging the district help or benefit the students? It makes no sense to me to also build a new school in Wendell when you haven't met the needs of the students we already have in this district,\" Lopez said. She described unfilled special education positions and said nonverbal students have waited years for iPads used for communication.

Faye Brakes, who described herself as an educational consultant, criticized the use of the consent agenda to move large capital items without broad community input. She cited district enrollment figures from the capital plan and the district website and questioned the timing and specificity of proposed construction: \"With their capital plan... the district will not exceed capacity until 2030 with projected enrollment of 15,760 students,\" she said, and asked why a large new district office was included on the consent agenda.

Melissa Grimshaw, president of the Tolleson Union Education Association, responded to other speakers by urging the community to bring issues forward to administration earlier so they can be addressed. \"When you see things that aren't happening, I wish I knew that we had an ESS classroom that needed those communication devices. We would have been all over that,\" Grimshaw said, and described the union's role in advocating for resources.

Michael Connor, who identified himself as chair of the Tolleson Union Education Association, urged cooperation between residents and the district and warned that losing bond and override measures would hamper services parents and students rely on.

Several public speakers also questioned timing and notification of agenda materials, and at least one speaker called for the resignation of the board president — an allegation that was raised during public comment but not acted on by the board during the meeting.

The board did not take immediate legal action on matters raised during public comment; the board president read district public-participation rules noting that matters under legal review will not receive a response at the meeting and listing board policies KD, KDB, KDC and KBT for complaint disposition.

","Public commenters and union leaders at the Tolleson Union High School District meeting opposed spending on a proposed district office and raised shortages in special education supplies, extracurricular costs for families and transparency in agenda notices.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6457891,"Tolleson principal outlines recent campus improvements, student leadership and family engagement",797,117000,914000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3&start=117&end=914","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3/thumbnail_117000.jpg","/articles/6457891/Arizona/Tolleson-principal-outlines-recent-campus-improvements-student-leadership-and-family-engagement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457891-c6ea98434bd8f4ea0cfeeb8a54e8e4d8/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055987&Signature=cMHMI-aI62RbbThPhSkbWNCa9Mv0AmhoeNO576dkaB85Hr3Om-H8hSqPPOg3WhG2QKCnzhDHzDBxLlOt9MplS9Jhd24O398AwYaiFK-ITc7EjNSqnGtuz3e9dqmgue0mbMzPkm-2mtuz3UBOak01cQ~6IZYBLM8g5WmgdW1UuEgv8Rl7b6IY~Z7qeHijVEe7TLumhi31c~AY5fmOAzIOlR2B~QlW4sPiLCxiZxIAtmsJPNfZG6KDvupFSa2-t1D8i~a~sChWsg217q6mdIP3mpRXanHzQ6wrgU6Nr6cGMFgUvvmttMkRHuoKzsveWFdX0tkPEY2C73ufGNI2Vwf7qQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Martin Perez, principal of Tolleson Union High School, told the Tolleson Union High School District governing board on Sept. 19 that recent campus changes are aimed at improving student experience, safety and family engagement.

Perez opened by honoring the late Johnny Lara, a 1969 Tolleson alumnus, saying Lara’s “legacy of family, service, and community will forever remind us what it means to be T‑Town.” He then detailed specific campus improvements the school has completed or begun.

Perez said the campus added a third student-walker gate — between Old Main and the performing arts center — to reduce congestion caused by construction of a new Exceptional Student Services (ESS) building on the south side of campus. He described cafeteria renovations completed during the last school year and credited the updated serving lines and new ovens with increasing meal-service efficiency at “the highest volume in our school district.” Perez thanked Gabriel Martinez, director of facility management, and the school’s nutritional services staff by name for their roles in the project.

The principal said the campus installed additional shaded seating near the Culinary Arts Center and added soap dispensers and hygiene dispensers in female restrooms. Perez also highlighted the Wolverine Student Leadership Council, a student group representing organizations including FBLA, DECA, JAG, robotics, HOSA and the National Honor Society. He said several of the operational changes he described were a direct result of the council’s feedback.

Perez described parent engagement efforts such as weekly newsletters (Wolverine Weekly/La Hoja Semanal) and a “Cafecito con el Principal” program intended to address challenges including chronic absenteeism. He also thanked Joseph Ortiz, director of public relations and marketing, and student body president Adelaide Acosta for contributing to a recent video explaining campus drop‑off procedures.

The principal closed by inviting questions from board members; several board members praised the communication and rapid response to family and student feedback.

Perez: \"My name is Martin Perez. I'm honored to serve ... and proud to serve as principal at Tolleson Union High School known as T‑Town.\"","Tolleson Union High School Principal Martin Perez told the district governing board about cafeteria renovations, new campus entry points, shade and hygiene upgrades, expanded student leadership roles and parent engagement programs during a State of the School address.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6457877,"Board pulls and discusses several consent-agenda items; outcome and votes recorded in meeting roll calls",1103,5693000,6796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3&start=5693&end=6796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5825655-e17fcba9e0f61e88dab0e1cbf178b1f3/thumbnail_5693000.jpg","/articles/6457877/Arizona/Board-pulls-and-discusses-several-consent-agenda-items-outcome-and-votes-recorded-in-meeting-roll-calls","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6457877-db1c11fb22387bffd999205bdd6fadce/orig.mp4?Expires=1775055987&Signature=UzMh00pxOIUryZn9Mona99siY17JiNpUlLiSNsDUD7ohEfRnOcKkD2n~wgUcC9yqBrH~k0BgqKLTnGPS-4q5~wnaCHShrcB-HwMZxNnh2mssjzVKcnDXAHAihbKnxHeP0lhsFWZqZjZ~PwxfJ-P~VV5p6n0UeYssD3r4IxFEEMxif~TttEVfvCE2wg~r7MfLUh6C8Iu1EDtlZrVkTsYwZCpz4fgv3BNr2zs5q5N1QINuq1QIzmC7PyJT5vm0cxZPjV5VKmUt2uf2A4qcLhoiGbwzGpgySpo0~pj9eRmH2kbhB6R3xyabG-ZdEr38rFpwts1ce2AcY9-2JgRss-yhZw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the Sept. 19 Tolleson Union High School District board meeting, members pulled and discussed several consent-agenda items, including personnel ratifications and facilities contracts, and conducted roll-call votes on motions related to the consent agenda.

At the start of the consent agenda discussion a motion was made to pull items G1 and G8 for discussion; a subsequent motion removed items G5, G6 and G7 for additional explanation. Later, a motion was made to place items G1, G5, G6, G7 and G8 back onto the consent agenda; the clerk called roll for the motion and individual board members cast votes on the record.

During discussion, Member Luna Najera expressed concerns about short notice for certain personnel items and the ability of the public and board members to review candidate resumes, saying that \"I don't think that 24 hours is plenty of time.\" The superintendent and staff explained the annual submission process for the capital plan and facilities preventative maintenance reporting to the School Facilities Board. Director of Facilities Dave Martinez explained that bids for specific door/roller‑door repairs had produced only two vendor responses and that the district sought to be proactive in repair and replacement planning.

The transcript contains several recorded roll calls where members individually answered \"Yes\" or \"No,\" but does not provide a single consolidated vote tally for every contract shown in the consent packet within the available excerpt. Where roll-call sequences are recorded in the transcript, the individual responses are included in the meeting record. The board later approved personnel appointments, recognized incoming principals and accepted an instructional time model for alternative and virtual programs; the transcript records affirmative roll-call entries for those latter agenda items but the excerpt does not list each vote with a complete tally for every single consent contract.

Because the transcript excerpt does not unambiguously state the final vote outcomes for each consent-item identifier in every instance, this account records the motions, the roll-call proceedings and the items discussed but marks certain final outcomes as \"not specified\" when the record is not explicit in the provided transcript excerpt.

","Board members pulled multiple items from the consent agenda for discussion, including human resources items and capital contracts; roll calls took place on motions to pull, remove and place items back on the consent agenda. Transcript records roll-call votes but does not specify final disposition for each individual contract in all cases.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District staff describe AI-enabled cameras and portable weapon-detection gates; one-time camera upgrade cost cited at $1.8M

Residents, educators voice concern about proposed district office and resource gaps at Tolleson meeting

Tolleson principal outlines recent campus improvements, student leadership and family engagement

Board pulls and discusses several consent-agenda items; outcome and votes recorded in meeting roll calls