7 Orange County high schools will soon have weapon detectors on campus

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. - A new pilot program will soon screen every student and visitor on some Orange County school campuses. 

Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) is selecting seven random schools to test the use of a walk-through weapons detection system when students and visitors arrive at campus beginning on Monday, Dec. 18.

Wekiva High School will be the first campus where the program launches, while six other schools – Boone, Horizon, Lake Nona, Evans, Timber Creek, and Jones High Schools – will begin using the weapon detection system in phases from January to March. 

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The district said the weapon detection system, called OPENGATE, resembles units that are often used at theme parks, stadiums, and government buildings. 

OPENGATE is a weapon detection system that automatically screens people with backpacks and bags while also identifying other contraband items not allowed on school property. 

"If they need to be secondary screened, they’ll have to step off to the side. We’ll have somebody there to take a look at their bag and make sure that they don’t have something in there that is not authorized," explained Chief Bryan Holmes of the OCPS District Police.

If contraband items are detected, a secondary screening will be conducted, OCPS said. 

"Everything we can do to prevent bad things from happening on our campuses, we want to do that," Chief Holmes added.

Visitors will also walk through the weapon detection system as they enter campus at the main office.