Jamestown High School Students had to adapt Monday to a new entry procedure.

The procedure was begun after the Jan.30 incident involving a gun at JHS.

Now, JHS has implemented the use of weapons detection systems for student entry. The district already has been rolling out weapons detection systems in other district facilities, such as the Tech Academy and at JHS football and basketball games.

On Jan. 30 at approximately 11 a.m., the Jamestown High School Resource Officer, along with a Jamestown High School administrator, were investigating a report of a student possibly vaping in a bathroom. The student was identified as 18-year-old Narade Gumbs Jr. Gumbs was advised by a school administrator that his backpack would be searched.

During the search, the administrator located a loaded handgun inside the backpack. Gumbs was immediately detained and removed from the school building without further incident.

Gumbs was charged with two counts of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, and one count of second-degree criminal possession of a weapon.

“Overall, our Jamestown High School students did a great job adapting to the first day of new entry procedures,” Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said.

The OpenGate weapons detection systems are the same brand of units that the district has used at its Tech Academy and athletic events. Portable wands are also used for secondary screening when necessary. High school families received detailed instructions over the weekend.

“Our JHS administrators and school safety adviser did a great job organizing everything ahead of Monday morning,” the superintendent added.

There were minor delays of about 15 minutes as students got used to the procedure, Whitaker noted.

“This delay is very similar to the initial delays we experienced when implementing our new procedures for the state’s electronic devices/cell phone law. After several days of practice, things came back to normal. We expect that to happen with this new dual process — (cell) phones and detection — as well,” Whitaker added.

At the start of the school year, districts across New York state were to have policies in place to adhere to the new cellphone law. In May, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced the distraction-free law for the 2025-2026 school year.

The state law requires bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones in K-12 schools. The requirement also applies to charter schools as well as Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES).At JHS, students use locked pouches to hold their cellphones and other internet-enabled electronic devices. District teachers and administrators will have devices to unlock the pouches.

The superintendent said the district will be offering counseling support for any student or staff who may find themselves affected by this information and who wish to talk to someone.

Whitaker said that Gumbs will face the maximum disciplinary consequences consistent with the district’s code of conduct.