Parents praise weapons‑detection pilot; one presenter urges reduced screen time after citing international test data
May 15, 2026 | Gwinnett County, School Districts, Georgia
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During public comment at the board's May 14 meeting, several parents voiced support for stepped‑up safety measures and expressed gratitude for the district's proposed weapons‑detection pilot, while another speaker urged the board to reconsider the district's heavy classroom technology use.
Parent Jeremy Caballero thanked the board and administrators for launching a pilot to place weapons‑detection systems in five elementary schools next year and urged community involvement. "It's amazing that you've done that ahead of any law that's been passed... you're leading the way," Caballero said, praising the district for its approach to student safety.
Curt Walters, a parent of three, also expressed appreciation for steps the district is taking to protect students and encouraged the board to advocate for statewide adoption.
Separately, presenter Austin Crawford urged the board to review international and local assessment data that he said indicate heavy classroom screen time and 1:1 device policies are associated with lower performance on PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS assessments and with a local increase in third‑grade students reading below grade level. Citing international studies, Crawford said students who spent more time on screens scored lower and tied that trend to Gwinnett’s 1:1 rollout, asserting a sharp decline in third‑grade reading proficiency since the district expanded device access.
The board did not take immediate policy action on technology use or the weapons pilot during the business meeting; parents called for continued engagement and community discussion.
Why it matters: Student safety measures and classroom technology are both high‑salience topics for parents and educators—one involving physical security investments, the other instructional strategy and student outcomes.
What’s next: The weapons‑detection pilot is scheduled to roll out to five elementary schools next year per public comments; the district has not announced policy changes on technology in response to the public comment.
Sources: Public comments by Jeremy Caballero, Curt Walters and Austin Crawford at the May 14 board meeting.
Parent Jeremy Caballero thanked the board and administrators for launching a pilot to place weapons‑detection systems in five elementary schools next year and urged community involvement. "It's amazing that you've done that ahead of any law that's been passed... you're leading the way," Caballero said, praising the district for its approach to student safety.
Curt Walters, a parent of three, also expressed appreciation for steps the district is taking to protect students and encouraged the board to advocate for statewide adoption.
Separately, presenter Austin Crawford urged the board to review international and local assessment data that he said indicate heavy classroom screen time and 1:1 device policies are associated with lower performance on PISA, TIMSS and PIRLS assessments and with a local increase in third‑grade students reading below grade level. Citing international studies, Crawford said students who spent more time on screens scored lower and tied that trend to Gwinnett’s 1:1 rollout, asserting a sharp decline in third‑grade reading proficiency since the district expanded device access.
The board did not take immediate policy action on technology use or the weapons pilot during the business meeting; parents called for continued engagement and community discussion.
Why it matters: Student safety measures and classroom technology are both high‑salience topics for parents and educators—one involving physical security investments, the other instructional strategy and student outcomes.
What’s next: The weapons‑detection pilot is scheduled to roll out to five elementary schools next year per public comments; the district has not announced policy changes on technology in response to the public comment.
Sources: Public comments by Jeremy Caballero, Curt Walters and Austin Crawford at the May 14 board meeting.
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