FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (7News) — The stabbing of a student inside West Potomac High School on Wednesday is reinvigorating conversation about student safety inside schools.

Right now, Fairfax County Public Schools is testing a weapon detection system.

The detection system was at Edison High School on Wednesday, but it wasn’t at West Potomac High School.

“Given what happened today at West Potomac High School, does this weapon detection system, in your opinion, need to be there tomorrow morning?” 7News Reporter Nick Minock asked Reid on Wednesday afternoon.

“In fact, we are planning to have it there tomorrow morning,” answered Reid.

“Do you think this would have prevented a stabbing?” Minock asked Reid.

“We’re actually not sure if this would have prevented the stabbing that occurred today, because I’m not familiar with the exact specifications of the weapon that was used, because it’s still under investigation,” said Reid. “So once we’re able to determine the exact dimensions and the specifications of the weapon, we’ll be able to better understand and answer that.”

The Superintendent told 7News that FCPS plans for the coming fall to have a weapons detection system in place at all high schools.

However, by itself, the Superintendent told 7News the weapons detection system is not going to be sufficient to address all issues, and it’s part of a layered security system.

Some parents 7News spoke to think the weapon detection system is a great idea.

But other parents 7News spoke to said they want to see FCPS strengthen disciplinary actions.

“Do you think disciplinary action should be strengthened in Fairfax County? Do you think that would solve the problem with some of these fights and the stabbing that we saw today?” Minock asked Reid.

“I want to begin my answer with saying that our hearts and thoughts and prayers go out to families of those students directly impacted, as well as to all the students and staff in the school,” said Reid. “This was traumatizing, there’s no question about it, and it’s not something we want to see in Fairfax County High Schools. When we think about weapons detection systems, we think about school resource officers. We think about discipline consequences, administrative training, staff training, tip lines, security staff, all of those are part of a layered safety and security system that we hope prevents these incidents from happening at all. I think when we talk about disciplinary consequences, those are often occurring after an incident occurs. Now, whether or not the consequences can be viewed as a deterrent to future behavior, there’s always that expectation, but I really just don’t think there’s going to be one answer, or we would have happened on it by now. I do think that in general, we want to be thoughtful about also thinking about how do we model, teach, expect and hold our children, staff and families accountable to being a little kinder. Right now, I think that’s a real challenge for us in our community and our country.”

“I also looked at this video of this fight, and what you see here is it appears to be a faculty member, perhaps a teacher, walking by the fight that happened. Is that acceptable for a faculty member to walk by the fight?” Minock asked Reid.

“It is never acceptable to walk by behavior that is dangerous,” answered Reid. “What I will say is this whole situation is currently under investigation. We’ll be reviewing all the video both the school video and law enforcement investigative details and we’ll take any appropriate actions as necessary.”

After what happened at Potomac High School on Wednesday, three Fairfax County School Board members announced they’re pushing for an array of safety improvements, including more school resource officers.

Fairfax County School Board Members Mateo Dunne, Ilryong Moon, and Ryan McElveen issued this joint statement:

“Fairfax County Public Schools is widely considered one of the safest public school systems in the United States, but in light of the unacceptable act of violence at West Potomac HS, it is necessary to invest in new measures to ensure the safety and security of our students. Today the undersigned School Board Members call on the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to prioritize the following security measures:

• Increase the number of School Resource Officers (SRO) to the nationally recommended ratio of 1:1000 students at every middle school and high school; and
• Ensure one or more SROs are present every day at every middle and high school; and
• Fully fund the Middle School After-School program, which was established to improve academic outcomes, develop healthy and successful youth, and combat gang violence.

In addition, the undersigned School Board Members call on Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) to prioritize the following security measures:

• Increase the number of security assistants to 1:750 students at every middle school and high school to ensure appropriate enforcement of student discipline and enable continuous monitoring of bathrooms, hallways, and other areas throughout the school day;
• Installing Open Gate weapons detection technology at every middle school and high school, so this technology, which is used by the Secret Service, can prevent incidents like the one today;
• Secure entry doors to prevent unauthorized access during the school day;
• Install video cameras inside and outside of every elementary, middle, and high school;
• Accelerate the construction of security vestibules at every school; and
• Conduct a security audit of every elementary, middle, and high school.”