KARNS CITY — Students at Karns City High School have recently added a new step to their morning routines: walking through metal detectors.

Early Friday, teachers and staff told students to empty their backpacks of their keys, cell phones, binders and calculators, setting them aside and filing through the machines. The process has been going fairly smoothly now that staff and students alike are a little more experienced with the process.

The detectors have been in use for about two weeks.

“It was rough at first, but it's getting better now,” said senior Carlee Boltz, 17.

As a cheerleader and soccer player, she often carries several heavy bags to school, making the check-in process a little more laborious for her than for others.

As far as her safety goes, “I don't think it makes a difference,” she said.

Boltz pointed out that teachers don't face the same scrutiny as students, since teachers aren't required to walk through them. Superintendent Eric Ritzert said it would be difficult to enforce, since there are two main entrances where students come in whereas teachers also can enter through an array of side doors. However, that's not to say that teachers won't have to walk through them in the future.

“I do envision staff eventually going through them as well,” Ritzert said.

The school district is following suit with several other Butler County districts that already have such safety measures in place. For instance, Butler and Seneca Valley have had metal detectors for years.

While South Butler schools do not have metal detectors, they have armed school police, and they added a security film to all glass entrance doors this year to prevent an intruder from quickly breaking in.

Karns City also added armed guards in the spring, after the Sandy Hook Elementary killings in December in Connecticut.

Although some Karns City students don't feel any different about their safety, others are happy the metal detectors were installed.

“Even though we're a small school, I'm really glad we got them,” said junior Krista Stroup, 17.

There are about 750 students at the high school, which includes students in grades 7 to 12.

“I feel a lot safer now that they're here,” said senior David Markel, 17.

He said it's reassuring to know that no one is bringing anything dangerous to school. “I feel a lot safer knowing (dangerous individuals are) not here,” Markel said.

Senior Michael Riley, 18, said, “I do feel safer, but I didn't feel that unsafe when they weren't here.

“I don't mind them. It's easy for me,” he said.

The fewer items students carry in, the easier the process. However, when baseball season comes around, and Riley has to carry more items to school, he anticipates the metal detectors being more of a hassle.

Four metal detectors were installed at the high school for students and visitors to use. One metal detector is at each elementary school for visitors.

The six metal detectors cost $21,700 to the district. Teachers and staff are paid about $4.70 a day to assist with the new process. Teachers' noninstructional rate is $18.81 an hour this school year, and helping at the metal detectors takes about 15 minutes a day.

The school board this year approved the purchase, along with other security features such as cameras.