CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Recent guns found at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, school threats and a deadly shooting at Butler High School have made it a scary few weeks for people in CMS.

Superintendent Clayton Wilcox laid out some school safety changes Friday. While the district won't add metal detectors, it will start using security wands to randomly check students for weapons.

“Random doesn't mean we will select individual students. It means that we are going to go into a school on an unpredictable basis and look at what everyone is bringing to school,” Wilcox said.

The checks will start in high schools and could move to middle schools.

“Let's keep guns out of schools. Wanding does that. We see evidence of that at every high school football game so it works,” said Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Chief Kerr Putney.

In addition to wanding, the district will also:

• Randomly check backpacks and bags
• Increase camera monitors in all portable classrooms
• Speed up the addition of panic cards so teachers can send emergency notifications to CMS staff and police
• Work to improve relations between teachers and students so if students voice concerns action will be taken
• Install electronic, key-less entry access system on every front door

The district also wants to add more guidance counselors. However, making all of the changes won't be cheap. Some of the expenses are covered by a recent boost in school safety funding. As schools face unrelenting threats, more money may be needed.

“I know there will be some support for that but will it be everything the superintendent wants I don't know. But I think is much greater than the school board, it has to include the county and the city,” said CMS Board Chair At-Large Mary McCray.

Until then, the district is taking steps it hopes will get students focused back on what school is supposed to be about which is learning.

The security wanding will start after winter break. Wilcox said the security wands cost around $300.