BPS increases safety through gun detection in schools | Brevard County

BREVARD COUNTY – Brevard Public Schools will install OpenGate weapons detection systems at its high schools during the 2024-2025 school year, according to a press release.

According to the press release, the OpenGate systems are “designed to quickly and unobtrusively scan people for dangerous or prohibited items as they enter school buildings.”

BPS also said that “this technology will help maintain foot traffic, minimize delays in student drop-off and entry to school, while ensuring a safer environment for everyone.”

BPS noted that students and visitors will pass through the gates when entering the building and remove laptops or similar items from backpacks to avoid unnecessary alarms. BPS also stated that a person will be subjected to a second search if the system triggers an alarm.

The first system will be installed at Melbourne High School on October 8 and 9, with the other 15 BPS high schools to follow later this year, BPS said in the press release.

“We wanted to start the rollout at one of our larger schools,” Janet Murnaghan, BPS’s chief strategic communications officer, said in an email to Hometown News through Caitlin Butler, senior communications coordinator.

“I am grateful to the school board for providing this additional layer of security and for our partnership with the Sheriff’s Office in working to bring this state-of-the-art weapons detection system to our schools,” BPS Superintendent Mark Rendell said in the release.