Page 70 - Superintendent Annual Report 2023-24
P. 70

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.

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