During morning arrival Jan. 31, an Evolv weapons detection system located at the school’s front entrance, alerted administrators of a gun in a student’s backpack. Mansfield ISD police arrested the student. 

“What this showed us was the protocols we have in place work exactly like they’re supposed to,” Dr. Stephanie Bonneau, principal, said. “Everyone involved in this did exactly what they were supposed to do the way they had been trained to do it. It was handled really well.” 

An email communication to parents from MISD stated, “There is nothing at this time to indicate a specific threat against a student or staff member.”

“It takes a lot of trust in the campus and in campus authority to believe that there’s no threat still here,” Dr. Bonneau said. “And you’re trusting your kids to us and you have to have faith that we take that super seriously. It’s not something we take lightly, that your kids are here with us and we’re taking care of them during the day.”

The district installed the Evolv system Oct. 18, 2023. The system is a weapon detector that scans for the density and shape of metals. It is AI-generated, using electromagnetic fields and sensors to detect weapons. 

On Nov. 15, the Evolv systems increased in sensitivity. Although the change caused some congestion, administrators adjusted to ensure student arrival ran smoothly and effectively. 

“It is reassuring to me that our system worked exactly the way it was supposed to work, that our administrator and police and campus police officer handled everything exactly the way it was supposed to be handled,” Dr. Bonneau said.

Art teacher, Mr. Shane Skinner, monitored the tablet during morning arrival. 

“There was no commotion or anything,” Mr. Skinner said. “Until the email came out, I had no idea that happened.”

Rumors among students began about school dismissal. No classes or campus events have been canceled or altered. 

“I’ve gotten some phone calls and emails,” Dr. Bonneau said. “I can understand on the parents’ side, it feels like we didn’t give out very much information, but we gave out all the information we could.”