Metal detectors installed at CHS

The newest additions to Columbia High were being installed Monday afternoon.

CHS and Columbia County School District staff spent Monday installing metal detectors at each of the three entrances for students at the school.

When students return to class Thursday — CHS had a virtual learning day Monday to allow staff time to implement the changes and the district has canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday for Tropical Storm Idalia — they will have to walk through a metal detector to get into the building.

It’s a safety measure that was necessary, CHS Principal Trey Hosford said.

“It was the right thing,” he said. “There was a lot of talk in our community we should have done it before and that’s on me. I’ll take ownership of that. I’ll take blame if people want to blame.

“I knew Friday night we were about to do this.”

After a meeting Sunday afternoon involving district administration, CHS administration and Columbia County Sheriff’s Office personnel, Hosford said it became clear that the “new normal” at CHS wouldn’t be ready for students Monday.

Instead Monday became a prep day to install the metal detectors, test them and try to work through various scenarios to be ready once students return.

The addition of the metal detectors comes after two armed teens climbed a fence at Tiger Stadium on Friday night to try to gain entrance into Columbia’s game against Buchholz.

Hosford said the move to install the devices was made right there at Tiger Stadium.

“I think the decision was made Friday night,” Hosford said, adding he was on the phone multiple times Friday night with Superintendent Lex Carswell discussing the situation. “We made the decision on the phone that starting Monday morning this was happening.”