FCPS launches weapon detection pilot

Fairfax County Public Schools is launching a weapons detection pilot in randomly selected high schools beginning next week.

FCPS will deploy 15 portable OpenGate devices from CEIA USA, a company based in Ohio. The Office of Safety and Security will select at least one school a week for screening during morning arrival. The screening devices may remain at the school for one day or several days.  

The OpenGate weapons detection system is similar to those used at sporting events and concerts and is more sensitive than traditional metal detectors. FCPS says the devices identify “potential threats while minimizing false alarms from everyday metal items like coins.”

The pilot program will run through the end of the 2024-25 school year. FCPS plans to expand the weapons detection program in the next school year if there is sufficient staffing and funding.

The free-standing devices are designed to screen large numbers of people, including their backpacks, quickly and efficiently.

Students will remove laptops from their bags and pass through free-standing body scanners one at a time. A sound and a red light will alert security staff if the scanner detects a suspicious item. When the alarm sounds, the student will step to the side for a secondary screening to determine the cause of the alarm.

FCPS security personnel will monitor the entry process. Staff will be trained on how to operate the safety screening technology, resolve false alerts, conduct secondary screenings, and follow up if a prohibited item is found.

The devices are designed to detect knives, firearms, handguns, long guns, and materials and components used to construct an explosive device.

However, the alarm could be sounded for permissible items, such as a three-ring binder, eyeglass case, or metal lunchbox.

A secondary screening could include the use of a handheld device or a search of a student’s backpack or bag.

During secondary screenings, FCPS says, “Discretion, respect, and professionalism will be demonstrated to ensure the privacy and dignity of the individuals while prioritizing safety and security.”

If a weapon or illegal substance is found, the police will take immediate possession of it, FCPS states, and the student could face police charges and school disciplinary actions.

FCPS urges parents to talk to students about the pilot. School counselors are prepared to talk to students experiencing anxiety. Students cannot opt out of the pilot. If a student refuses to pass through the scanner, their parent will be called and the student will be sent home.

OpenGate technology uses low-frequency electromagnetic fields, not ionizing radiation like X-ray systems. According to FCPS, “the screening process is completely safe for all individuals, including children, pregnant women, and those with pacemakers or other medical devices.” 

The program is part of FCPS’ ongoing efforts to enhance school safety, which also includes additional security cameras, panic buttons, security vestibules, and vape detectors in school bathrooms.

There were two recent security incidents at Fairfax County schools. In February, a student at Edison High School was arrested for bringing a firearm to school. Also in February, two teens were arrested for brandishing a gun at Mount Vernon Woods Elementary School.