AI safety technology to be piloted at three MCPS high schools
AI safety technology to be piloted at three MCPS high schools
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2026/02/11/ai-safety-technology-pilot/
Publish Date: 2026-02-11 10:57:00
Source Domain: bethesdamagazine.com
An “AI-supported school safety tool” that works with existing school security cameras will be piloted in three Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) high schools beginning March 2, according to MCPS officials.
“This pilot is a careful, short-term opportunity to test a potential tool, gather feedback from our school community, and determine whether it meaningfully supports the work our staff already do every day to keep students safe,” Marcus Jones, MCPS chief safety officer, said in a Monday letter to families whose students attend the three schools.
The announcement of the pilot came just hours before a 16-year-old allegedly shot and injured another student Monday afternoon at Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville.
The district is utilizing VOLT-AI (Violence Observation & Lead Tracking), an AI-supported school safety tool designed to help staff “notice and respond to potential safety concerns more quickly,” at these three high schools: Bethesda-Chevy Chase High in Bethesda, Col. Zadok Magruder High in Rockville and Seneca Valley High in Germantown, Jones said in the letter.
According to the letter and the VOLT-AI website, the technology works with existing school security cameras in public areas such as entrances and common spaces to detect weapons, fights, medical emergencies and other situations.
Once a situation is flagged by the technology tool, “trained school staff” review the information and decide whether a response is needed. VOLT-AI doesn’t make decisions or take actions on its own, Jones said in the Monday letter.
“Essentially, it is an additional set of eyes that allows school staff to respond more quickly to potential safety concerns,” Jones said.
The technology tool also doesn’t monitor individual student devices, private messages, or social media. Nor does it use facial recognition or identify people by name;…
