OPENGATE® Weapons Detection System
The safety of our students and staff is our top priority. As part of our continued commitment to safe learning environments, Houston County School District is implementing OPENGATE® weapons detection systems at all middle and high schools.
OPENGATE® is a walk-through screening system designed to help identify weapons and other prohibited items as students, staff, and visitors enter our schools.
High schools will be trained to use the system the week of October 26, 2026, followed by middle schools the week of November 2, 2026. Schools will begin using OPENGATE® after they are trained.
We know that a new screening process may take some getting used to. Our staff will be available to guide students and visitors through the process and answer questions as we work to make the transition as smooth and efficient as possible.
Thank you for your cooperation and partnership in keeping our school communities safe.
How It Works
- Prepare your belongings. Before entering the screening area, remove the items listed below from your backpack or pockets and carry them separately as directed.
- Walk through one at a time. Students, staff, and visitors will walk through the OPENGATE® system as they enter the building.
- Follow staff directions. If the system alerts, staff may ask you to walk through again or move to a designated area for additional screening.
- Plan for extra time. Entry may take longer during the first few weeks as everyone learns the new process.
Visitors must continue to follow existing check-in procedures and provide identification when required.
May remain in backpacks or pockets
- Cell phones, keys, and wallets
- Coins and jewelry
- Bottles
- Belts and watches
- Jackets
- Metal binder clips
- Metal or plastic notebooks, including spiral notebooks
Remove and carry separately
- Laptops and Chromebooks
- Tablets and iPads
- Metal three-ring binders
- Umbrellas
- Gaming devices
- Metal tins and metal cases
- Musical instruments: Keep instruments in their cases and hand the cases to staff.
Please keep in mind that cumulative metals may also set the system off. For example, a binder clip and two spiral notebooks combined closely together could trigger an alert.
If the system indicates a potential item of concern, the individual may be asked to walk through the system again. If the system alerts a second time, the individual may be directed to a secondary screening area where trained staff can conduct additional screening of the individual and their belongings in accordance with District procedures.
Frequently Asked Questions
The detectors, developed by the company CEIA and called OPENGATE®, are designed to screen large numbers of people, including their backpacks, quickly and efficiently. The free-standing detectors are portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, making them a good choice for school buildings and campuses.
The weapons detection scanners are more sensitive than traditional metal detectors. The technology in the system can more accurately identify metal sources that may be potentially harmful rather than sounding an alarm for all types of metal, such as coins.
Staff at the campuses with OPENGATE® weapons detectors will manage and monitor the entry process throughout the day. A security guard will also be at each middle and high school. Identified staff members will receive specific training on how to operate the screening equipment, resolve false alerts, evaluate the need for and carry out secondary screenings, and the protocols to follow if a prohibited item is found.
Students, visitors, and guests will pass through the OPENGATE® weapons detectors one at a time. Prior to stepping through the detector units, certain items containing metal should be removed from bags, such as Chromebooks / laptops, electronic tablets (iPads, or similar devices) and three-ring binders.
Tables will be available to allow for comfortable sorting of your items prior to the screening area. If the alarm sounds, the individual will step to the side for a secondary screening to determine the cause of the alarm.
If the system alerts as a student or visitor passes through, operators will guide the student or visitor to an area beside the main screening lanes for a secondary screening. This process allows the OPENGATE® lanes to continue processing students and visitors quickly and efficiently.
Secondary screenings are conducted by administrators and other designated staff who have been trained to handle these situations. Staff will use discretion and professionalism to ensure the privacy and dignity of individuals while maintaining safety and security.
It is important to note that OPENGATE® object detection systems may sometimes alert on items that are allowed in our schools, such as Chromebooks or laptops, electronic tablets (iPads or similar devices), and three-ring binders. Other items containing metal such as metal eye glass holders or metal pencil cases may also cause the system to alert.
The purpose of secondary screening is to identify the cause of the alert. During secondary screening, staff will first determine whether the alert is triggered by a permissible item and whether the item is on the individual or carried in their backpack or bag. Additional screening may be required, including the use of a handheld device or a search of the backpack or bag.
If you find that a certain item causes the system to alert, we recommend that you remove the item from your backpack along with your Chromebook when you pass through OPENGATE® or keep the item at home.
These systems are designed to provide fast and efficient screening of people, allowing for a natural flow of entry. During the initial implementation, some delays may be experienced; however, the goal is to minimize any potential disruptions to the entry process.
We anticipate this process to be similar to the car rider line at the start of the school year. It may be slow the first few weeks after implementation, but once students are familiar with the process, the system is able to handle hundreds of students quickly and efficiently.
If a weapon or prohibited object is found, the school will follow the Houston County School District Student Code of Conduct.
If a student refuses to pass through the scanner, the parent will be called and the student will be sent home. If a building visitor refuses to pass through the scanner, they will not be permitted to enter further into the building.
OPENGATE® technology provides advanced weapon detection without the use of harmful radiation. Unlike traditional X-ray systems that rely on ionizing radiation, OPENGATE® uses safe, low-frequency electromagnetic fields to detect concealed weapons as individuals walk through the system. This dynamic, non-contact approach ensures that the screening process is completely safe for all individuals, including children, pregnant women, and those with pacemakers or other medical devices.