Students and JHS personnel continue to adapt to a new entry procedure that was begun after a Jan. 30 gun incident where JHS implemented the use of weapons detection systems for student entry.

The Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education was given an update Tuesday of the incident during a meeting at Love Elementary School.

Since 2023, the district already had been rolling out weapons detection systems in other district facilities, such as the Tech Academy and at JHS football and basketball games. Student Board representative Hayden Langford said some JHS students had come to him and said the incident was scary.

“And mostly it was,” Langford said. “I’m surprised that we didn’t hear about this sooner, because it obviously happened earlier in the day. There was a lot of fear and uncertainty towards how that (incident) could have happened.”

From left, Jamestown Public Schools Board of Education Member John Panebianco, Vice President Joe Pawelski, President Paul Abbott, and Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker conduct business during a meeting Tuesday at Love Elementary School. P-J photo by Michael Zabrodsky

Langford added that with the students going through the detection process, the waiting time to get into school lengthens, and students spend more time outside in long lines.

“The lines are very long,” Langford added. “I know that for me personally, I haven’t been in the school before 8 (a.m.), definitely before 8:05 (a.m.) but even 8:10 (a.m.) as homeroom ends to 8:12, so we’re in the line from 7:55 up until that point.”

It is, he said, similar to the cell phone policy implemented at the beginning of the school year. One idea he did offer is that maybe officials can provide tarps to help students weather the elements.

Another Student Board representative Isaac Rosenfeld said the metal detectors add a great layer to security at the school.

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.

No one from the public was present to air any comments – positive or negative – to the board concerning the incident.

Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker praised the students, parents, and administrators for doing an incredible job in a short amount of time.

“I told the administrative staff that it’s a very high stress, very emotional time,” Whitaker said. “It’s very unfortunate that someone decided to make this decision on that particular day, and very fortunate that our variety of systems and our brave staff members and SRO (School Resource Officer) and redshirts came together in order to bring this (incident) to a successful and safe conclusion, and now we have a new normal, and we will adjust to the new normal.”

In other business, the board approved the 2026-2027 JPS instructional calendar. With the approval came a slight change with Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 being a scheduled work day for teachers, and also a day of student attendance. The Jamestown Teachers’ Association also approved the change.

Whitaker said that the way that holidays land throughout a year is sometimes different.

To receive one day prior to Thanksgiving, and one day prior to Christmas, the district has to start one day earlier in September, Whitaker said.