Houston ISD to add weapons detection systems in all high schools by May 2025

Houston ISD says new weapons detection systems will be put in place at three of its high schools by the end of the month.

The district says that every high school in the district will be equipped with the Open Gate systems by the end of the school year.

The school district previously announced Lamar High School would be the first school with the new technology, starting on Wednesday.

Houston ISD Adding Weapon Detection Systems

What we know:

Now, Houston ISD says that Northside and Bellaire High Schools will have the Open Gate system by the end of the month.

After that, a new campus will get the weapon detection system every week.

The district expects the technology to be fully implemented by May 2025.

Each campus will have community meetings for parents to ask questions.

What we don't know:

Houston ISD has not said when specific schools will get the Open Gate system.

Families are expected to be notified a week or two before it happens.

What is the Open Gate System?

Dig deeper:

According to HISD, it is the same technology used at most concerts and sporting events. It’s designed to alert to larger metal objects. 

Students won’t have to take off their backpacks, only their laptops, so HISD says it’s intended to be a quick process.

Superintendent Mike Miles claims they’ll be able to get 600 students through in a matter of 30 minutes.

Law enforcement on campus will get involved if prohibited items are found.

Everyone entering an HISD high school will be required to walk through the Open Gate system.

The technology is used at sporting events and concerts.

Why is this happening?

The backstory:

Throughout this school year, multiple weapons have been found on HISD campuses, including Lamar High School. 

One student has been charged with bringing a handgun with an extended magazine inside the school in October.

What they're saying:

"Keeping students and staff safe is and always will be our top priority. As part of our continued efforts to evaluate and strengthen our safety protocols, District leaders and HISD PD leadership determined that weapons detection systems are a necessary next step," said the district in a news release.

The Source: Information in this article comes from the Houston Independent School District.

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