The ETHS District 202 board approved a five-year capital improvement plan at its Tuesday, Oct. 13, meeting. Superintendent Marcus Campbell also addressed the Oct. 9 discovery of a handgun on campus and renewed calls for metal detectors.

The capital plan outlines facility and infrastructure projects through 2030, according to The Daily Northwestern. It includes continued funding for modernizations to the school's arts and innovation wing, gym wing HVAC upgrades, roof replacement and energy efficiency improvements.

Chief Financial Officer Kendra Williams told the board the district's limited budget makes it difficult to accommodate the wide range of capital improvements needed across the ETHS campus. The district is projected to reach a funding deficit of nearly $4.9 million by fiscal year 2029 and $1.9 million by fiscal year 2030, according to the plan.

Williams said renovation projects are important for maintaining equitable education for all students at ETHS.

Campbell also addressed the Oct. 9 incident in which a handgun and loaded magazine were found in a backpack in a student's gym locker. School personnel discovered an unloaded Glock 48 handgun and a magazine with 14 rounds of 9 mm ammunition at about 10:24 a.m. during a routine theft investigation, according to the Evanston RoundTable. Police detained the 17-year-old male student and took him to the Evanston Police Station.

The Cook County state's attorney's office charged the student with carrying or possessing a firearm, unlawful possession of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, the Chicago Tribune reported. He was taken to the Cook County Juvenile Detention Center on Oct. 9.

Campbell told the board the incident was "deeply concerning" for the school community but reiterated what he had shared in an earlier statement to families: there was no active threat, and the situation was contained. Because the incident involves a student, he said the district cannot share specific details but said the matter will be addressed in accordance with district policy.

The gun discovery has renewed discussion about metal detectors at ETHS, Campbell said. Evanston Now reported the question came up after previous gun incidents in December 2021 and November 2022, and ETHS previously decided against walk-through detectors.

Campbell told the board that metal detectors are not a standalone solution and that their potential benefits must be weighed against the impact on daily school life and possible additional staffing needs. He noted ETHS already has weapons detection systems in place, though the district does not disclose details about their type or location for security reasons.

In an Oct. 10 interview with The Evanstonian, Campbell was more blunt. "We've had these long conversations about the logistics and the philosophy behind metal detectors, but folks in Evanston don't want them, and you're gonna have a line down Dodge every morning getting into school," he said.

Administrators said they are still weighing whether to add detectors following the latest incident.