Page 70 - Superintendent Annual Report 2023-24

Metal Detector High School Implementation

School Police launched a Metal Detector Pilot Project
in September 2023. The CEIA OPENGATE® System
was selected due to its portability, high throughput
capacity, versatility, and ease of operation. When
walking through the devices, the system does not
require students to divest their backpacks, purses,
and bags. This additional layer of security and risk
reduction was implemented in all District-operated
high schools after the initial deployment at four
test sites. The District expanded the pilot project
between February and May to include 32 District-
operated high schools. Metal detector deployment
remained in a pilot phase throughout the school
year to ensure best practices could be established, Metal detectors were introduced at all District high schools this year.
necessary physical modifications to some school
entry points could be completed, and each school
could have time to refine its processes in preparation
for permanent deployment at the start of the next
school year.

The project gained the attention of local media and
neighboring school districts. The District set the
standard for deploying metal detectors efficiently
in high-volume schools by encouraging input from
administration, staff, and students to address the
nuances of each campus’ arrival procedures. The
Metal Detector Project was a collaborative effort
that included student-made training videos that
explained the best operational practices and student
expectations before deployment on each campus. Students quickly became acclimated to new arrival procedures with the introduction
of metal detectors on all high school campuses this year.

Upon entering campus each day, high school students traveled through metal detectors with limited
interruption to their regular arrival procedures.

70 Superintendent Annual Report 2023 - 2024