BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Each of Brevard County’s 16 traditional high schools now has an OpenGate weapons-detection system, according to the school district.
Such was the plan, as Brevard Public Schools’ announcement Wednesday marks the completion of “a phased-in approach,” which began last year at Melbourne High School, to install the metal detectors — each comprised of a pair of battery-powered pillars about 3 feet apart, which are light enough to be easily moved around — at the rest of the district’s high schools by the end of the school year.
“I’m thankful to the School Board and our partnership with the Sheriff’s Office for this additional layer of security,” Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell said in a statement.
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Elsewhere, Osceola High School in 2023 started testing weapons detectors while Orange County Public Schools began a pilot program later that year to decide whether to deploy OpenGate weapon-detection systems at district high schools — opting to conduct the trial at Wekiva, Boone, Horizon, Lake Nona, Evans, Timber Creek and Jones high schools — but ended up scrapping the program because the costs to run it were too high.
As of April 2024, each OpenGate was said to cost $17,000.
Brevard Public Schools’ latest update on its OpenGate initiative included reassurances to parents and guardians that transparent communication will be prioritized regarding new procedures and their impact on students’ daily routines.
• Commitment to Safety: The safety of our students, faculty, and staff remains our highest priority. The completion of the OpenGate® system installation across all traditional high schools is a testament to this commitment.
• Efficient and Non-Intrusive Screening: OpenGate® systems quickly and non-intrusively scan for dangerous items, ensuring smooth foot traffic and minimal delays during school entry.
• Clear Procedures for Alerts: If an alert is triggered, individuals will pass through the gate again. Persistent alerts will lead to secondary screening.
Brevard Public Schools Completes Installation of OpenGate® Weapons Detection Systems in All 16 Traditional High Schools | March 12, 2025 (excerpt)