Weapons Screening

In April 2025, the Board of Education approved the procurement of weapons screening equipment from OpenGate and Evolv. The Board made this decision after a public discussion of several security enhancements, including weapons screening, at the February Board retreat.

A weapons screening system is being implemented as an additional layer of defense against knives, guns, and other weapons from being brought inside school facilities. This system brings Decatur in line with the other school districts in the Metro RESA area, all of whom will offer a weapons screening system as of the beginning of the 2025-26 school year. 

Yes. As of February 2025, CSD was one of only two school districts in the Metro RESA without some form of weapons screening program. Both CSD and the other school district without weapons screening in February 2025 added weapons screening for the opening of the 2025-26 school year.

CSD is committed to robust safety and security systems for students, staff, and visitors. Beyond weapons detection, these include:

• Strong investment in counselors and mental health supports, including the Student Success Center at the middle and high school.
• Bark monitoring of students' Google Workspace activity for threats of harm to self or others.
• A visitor management system to ensure guests are not registered sex offenders, and to track visitors' presence throughout a school.
• A partnership with the City of Decatur to provide uniformed School Resource Officers to support schools. SROs are specially trained not only in law enforcement, but also in providing law education and in serving as informal mentors to students.
• The Centegix CrisisAlert system to permit any employee to immediately place their facility on lockdown and notify first responders.
• A Standard Response Protocol that offers simple, clear guidance for student and staff response to a disruptive event.

No. Weapons screening scanners are more sensitive and sophisticated than traditional metal detectors. Weapons screening technology can more accurately identify metal sources that may be potentially harmful rather than sounding an alarm for all types of metal, such as coins and belt buckles.

These screenings use advanced sensors, reducing false alarms compared to traditional metal detectors and ensuring a higher level of detection accuracy. They are portable and can be used at multiple locations and events.

Students and visitors will walk between two towers for efficient screening. Students pass their Chromebook outside the sensors to a staff member, who then returns the device when the student passes through. The same "passaround" is used for other highly metalic items, such as softball bats. Keys, phones, and other smaller items can remain in their pockets, and students can keep their backpacks on. 

If there is no alert, the person can keep moving. If the system detects an item that could be a safety risk, the system will show a “red box” (Evolv) or beep and show a red light (OpenGate). When that occurs -- and when a student enters with an instrument case -- that person is routed to a secondary screening.

Evolv Demonstration:

OpenGate Demonstration:

• CSD staff operate the screening system.
• Employees running the system are trained by the Director of Safety & Security on proper operation of the system.
• This training includes procedures on ensuring only the weapons detection system itself triggers a secondary search of students. A student's appearance, demeanor, or demographics do not play a role in screening.
• These staff will also participate in efficiency and student data reviews of the system on a periodic basis.

Every student and guest who enters Decatur High School, Beacon Hill Middle School, or the M. Elizabeth Wilson School Support Center should expect to be screened. Screening will also occur for some sports programs. Screen might be present at special events held at campuses other than those named above.

• Many individuals with disabilities under IDEA and Section 504 can participate in the screening process as nondisabled individuals. Evolv systems use non-magnetic detection systems and are generally considered safe for individuals with medical implants, including pacemakers.
• Staff involved in the screening process maintain a student support mindset as well as disability awareness to ensure respectful and effective interactions. When screening an individual with disabilities, 1-2 step directions/requests may be necessary to avoid unnecessarily confusing the individual. Clear signage, trained staff to assist individuals with disabilities, and communication tools (e.g., visual alerts, text-to-speech) are examples of an inclusive and efficient screening process. 
• Some individuals with more severe disabilities may require alternative screening methods when the standard screening methods are not feasible or safe. Alternative methods that can be implemented include the use of hand-held no-touch wands, visual inspections by the special education teacher/case manager of the student, or pat-downs (with privacy considerations). At all times, staff implement all IEP or Section 504 Plan accommodations as pre-determined by the student's support plan during the screening process. If a need for an accommodation arises that was not previously documented in the support plan, the school team or parent may request an IEP or 504 meeting to discuss the student's needs and to determine required accommodations. 
   

• Chromebooks, laptops, musical instruments, metal water bottles, umbrellas, eyeglass holders, and the metal spines of large notebooks and three-ring binders may alert the detector.
• CSD-issued musical instruments and computers, plus metallic three-ring binders, will be placed on a table or handed to an employee and not go through the screening system.
• Instruments and cases will be screened at entry, with consideration given to ensure not to damage the instrument or its case.
• Cellphones, keys, wallets, and other smaller items can remain in student pockets. If the screening system alerts on such items, students will be asked to temporarily remove them, re-screen, and then retrieve those items once they have cleared the screening.

• Staff will manage the detection system by utilizing their training in the system’s implementation protocols.
• Students and guests who alert the screener will be directed to a secondary screening. They will be asked to identify and remove any items that might have alerted the screener, such as a metallic water bottle or binder. Those items will be temporarily removed and the individual re-screened.
• If the contents of backpack or other bag alert the screening system, the secondary screener will likewise invite the owner to remove items that potentially alert the system and re-screen.
• If repeated attempts to identify what alerts the screening system are unsuccessful, the student or guest will proceed to further screening with an administrator of member of the Safety & Security team. Such additional screening might include the use of a non-intrusive no-touch handheld wand screener.

• Secondary screenings are conducted by safety & security staff, administrators, and other designated staff who have been trained to manage these situations.
• Discretion, respect, and professionalism will be demonstrated to ensure the privacy and dignity of the individuals while prioritizing safety and security at all steps the screening process.

 Yes, knives are included in the list of potential weapons the system is capable of detecting. 

The system is capable of detecting vapes and similar devices, although smaller or less metallic vapes are less likely to trigger an alert. The system is focused on screening for weapons, not vapes.

• If a weapon or illegal substance is found, staff or law enforcement will immediately take possession of it.
• The person bringing the item(s) onto school property may face potential charges by police and disciplinary action by the school aligned with the Student Code of Conduct.

• It will vary. The first week of school, students should arrive 15 minutes earlier than usual to get used to the process.
• The entry time lessens each day as staff and students become acquainted with the process.
   

Yes. The system is portable and will be used at school events on campus, including some athletics events.

• If a person expected to be screened refuses to do so, they will not have permission to enter the building.
• If a student refuses to participate, their parent/guardian will be contacted. If the student continues to refuse, they will be asked to leave campus with their parent/guardian, and the absence will be unexcused. Additionally, refusal will be treated as a violation of rule 3AK under the Code of Conduct. If the parent/guardian is able to support the student in choosing to participate in the screening, the student will participate in the screening.

• Families are encouraged to talk with students about the importance of systems to keep violent weapons outside of school. 
• School counselors and administrators are prepared to support and assist students and staff experiencing anxiety over new arrival procedures.
• Employees with concerns or anxiety should speak with their supervisor.
• Discretion, respect, and professionalism will be demonstrated to ensure the privacy and dignity of all individuals while prioritizing safety and security at all steps the screening process.

• In keeping with FDA guidance on Electronic Article Surveillance (EAS) and walk-through metal detectors, it is recommended that visitors and system operators with implantable or wearable medical devices consult their device manufacturer or physician for information relating to their own specific device. An alternative screening approach is recommended for anyone who has safety concerns. 
• The Evolv Express system has been safety tested and meets the following certifications:
  • IEEE C95.1-2019 Standard for Safety Level with Respect to EMF
  • ICNIRP Guidelines for Limiting Exposure to Time-Varying Electric and Magnetic Fields 2010 (1 Hz -100 kHz)
  • NRTL-certified in accordance with UL 61010-1, CSA 61010-1, and EN 61010-1
  • Americans with Disabilities Act (compliant access)
  • RoHS (restriction of the use of certain hazardous substances in electrical equipment)
• All CEIA equipment, including OpenGate detectors, meet or exceed local and international electrical safety standards used. The CEIA EMC Laboratory is accredited according to the ISO/IEC 17025 standard.

The Evolv Express uses extremely low frequency radio waves (ELF) – a non-ionizing sensing modality – in compliance with IEEE C95.1-2019 Standard for Safety Level with Respect to EMF, the guidance for safe operation with the general public, which includes pregnant people and their unborn children. The IEEE is a leading developer of industry standards.

No, neither system uses any type of facial recognition.

• CSD's training for staff operating the weapons detection system includes explicit direction that a person receives a secondary weapons screen only after the detection system has triggered an alert. 
• CSD does not use a person's demeanor, race, gender, disability status, or other individual trait in determining whether they are sent to (or exempted from) a secondary screen.
• Staff selected to run weapons detection are chosen in part for their ability to meet this performance expectation.
• School and district safety committees -- the latter of which will include student representation -- will also review weapons detection data for continuous improvement.

• No, neither system creates or stores any individually identifying information about the users who walk through the sensors.
• The Evolv system creates an image and short video clip of each user who passes through the system.  If a potential threat is detected, the image appears on a staff member's screen with a box highlighting where the possible threat is located to help security teams focus on that specific area. No other information is collected or recorded in the system. All images and recordings are automatically deleted after 30 days.

Yes.