SARASOTA — With the start of a new school year around the corner, Sarasota County Schools is adding more security.
OpenGate, a weapons detection system, will be implemented in middle and high schools starting this school year. It begins Monday at Venice High School.
Starting out as a faster way to check people into large public events, OpenGate can detect a weapon in a backpack or on a person without slowing down foot traffic — a feature boosting OpenGate’s popularity.
SCS Safety and Security Director Sean O’Keefe said the district chose to use OpenGate after researching its effectiveness in other Florida school districts.
Officials said the decision to add more security was not in relation to any situation.
“It was a strategic approach by our board and our superintendent, who are very strong on safety and security,” SCS Safety and Security Director Sean O’Keefe said. “This was an ongoing look into this technology for years. So it’s not a rushed approach.”
Currently, the technology is used for Board meetings, which residents and staff must walk through to enter the Landings Building.