Escambia County Public Schools Superintendent Keith Leonard has announced that all middle and high schools will begin randomly screening students with a new weapons detection system called OPENGATE. 

This new technology allows for screenings to occur more frequently and to be less intrusive than traditional metal detector searches. Random screenings will be conducted quickly and in such a way that interruptions to instructional time will be limited. 

“We are excited to deploy the OPENGATE technology to add one more layer of security to our schools,” said Superintendent Leonard.  “We will always be proactive in our search for ways to make our campuses and offices more secure.”

OPENGATE will identify individuals in possession of weapons, vape devices, and other prohibited items. It is our hope that our parents will continue to have conversations at home to discourage potentially harmful and disruptive items from being brought to our schools. 

Escambia County Public Schools has purchased a total of 25 OPENGATE detectors and may likely purchase more units in the future.  Additional screenings will also take place at School Board meetings and extracurricular events. Students and visitors to all ECPS properties are reminded that weapons of any kind are prohibited on any school campus or district office.