Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales | nm.gov Official Website
School districts across New Mexico are increasingly adopting advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and weapons detection systems to address concerns about gun violence on campuses. This shift comes amid rising anxiety over juvenile crime and a surge in state funding for school safety initiatives.
Kirk Carpenter, former superintendent of the Aztec school district, witnessed the state's most recent school shooting in 2017, when a former student killed two classmates. Reflecting on that event, Carpenter said, “Anybody would’ve given anything … to have something like that not happen.” He added, “we need to realize that hope isn’t a strategy.”
Following the tragedy, Carpenter collaborated with lawmakers to improve school safety. He reached out to then-State Sen. Howie Morales, now lieutenant governor, leading him and other officials through the site of the shooting to highlight potential safeguards.
Carpenter advocated for creating a statewide summit on school safety. Morales recalled Carpenter’s initiative: “He brought this idea with much passion and much experience,” adding that it was an effort to bring together all aspects of safety into one forum.
While Carpenter downplayed his own role in these efforts, he acknowledged allies like Rep. Brian Baca, who proposed studying a centralized school safety entity—though the measure did not advance last session.
Participants at last month’s third annual state school safety summit expressed support for establishing an Office of School Safety to coordinate statewide efforts. This comes as House Bill 450 provided $35 million for school district safety improvements this year.
“The state has done a great job of giving schools opportunities for hardening schools,” Carpenter said. “But hardening a school is a piece of the pie. It’s not the pie.” He emphasized teaching humanity alongside security measures: “More than ever before in today’s society, we have to teach each other how to be more human again… our kids rely on us.”
At the summit, balancing security with maintaining welcoming learning environments was discussed repeatedly. Morales noted students’ emphasis on kindness and communication: “We want to make sure schools feel like a safe, homelike environment — not an institution fenced or chained off.”
Morales also highlighted technology's role amid rising juvenile crime rates—a topic drawing attention from both lawmakers and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham.
Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), which has experienced several incidents involving firearms this year—including seizing its tenth gun from a student by November—has responded by investing $4.1 million from state capital outlay into upgraded camera systems, panic alert systems, and weapons detectors at select sites (https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/amid-fear-of-gun-violence-new-mexico-school-districts-turn-to-tech/article_1165297e-c816-4c19-9348-8434bf2afb5c.html).
In Santa Fe schools, debates continue over using metal detectors after incidents involving threats and weapons led parents to call for more security measures such as AI-enhanced cameras. Vice President Kate Noble voiced concerns about psychological impacts: “It does do a lot to impact students as they come through a metal detector each day,” she said.
Deputy Superintendent Neal Weaver stated that Santa Fe is considering various options but faces challenges due to campus layouts and staffing demands associated with advanced detection systems. Immediate priorities include fencing projects and upgrading analog cameras.
Companies like ZeroEyes offer AI-powered firearm detection integrated into camera feeds; their software alerts analysts who can notify law enforcement if necessary. ZeroEyes works with ten New Mexico districts including Silver City and Hobbs Municipal Schools.
Gene Strickland, superintendent in Hobbs—which uses ZeroEyes across its 19 campuses—stressed coordination with law enforcement but maintained that personal relationships remain crucial: “Our greatest single asset in prevention is our relationships and our people,” he said.
Statewide threats can be reported through New Mexico’s anonymous tip system known as "See Something, Say Something."
The story includes corrections regarding proper identification of Sam Alaimo as co-founder of ZeroEyes.
