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Duval board favors OpenGate weapons‑detection tech for middle schools, staff to return with warranty and maintenance terms
Summary
Staff recommended the district acquire portable OpenGate weapons‑detection units for middle schools rather than continue renting Evolve equipment; board members asked for maintenance responsibilities, projected device lifetime and how contract language will address ownership and support.
The board discussed adopting OpenGate weapons‑detection technology for middle schools, with staff citing portability and ownership as key factors. "You own OpenGate. We don't own any of our Evolve technology — we rent it," a staff speaker said, arguing that ownership and portability make OpenGate a better long‑term fit for events and moving‑use cases.
Staff explained OpenGate units are portable and can be moved to gymnasiums or athletic events; Evolve is a hardwired system tied to a location. The district expects to run about seven OpenGate units at a time at a school, and staff said initial vendor support is part of early operations but long‑term maintenance will become a district responsibility once warranties expire.
Board members asked whether high schools would later migrate to OpenGate and what the maintenance and warranty terms are; staff said remaining contractual relationships around other equipment limit comments now and promised to return with projected device life and warranty details. The board did not vote on a contract but directed staff to include maintenance obligations and warranty periods in the forthcoming contract language.
