Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Camden County Board approves purchase of portable Open Gate weapon‑detection unit
Summary
The board authorized purchase of one portable Open Gate screening system (budgeted from a $30,000 safety allocation) and discussed using additional units at events; the district plans to seek grant funds for six more units.
The Camden County Board of Education on Nov. 14 authorized the purchase of one Open Gate portable weapon‑detection system to increase security screening capacity at sporting and other school events.
Mike Reeves, who presented the item, said the district had budgeted $30,000 for safety and would use a portion of that to buy the first unit. He said the district applied for a school safety grant to purchase six additional units so they could be strategically placed across schools. Reeves described the Open Gate unit as more accurate and faster than existing handheld metal detectors and said the equipment is portable and could be used for events or targeted screening when needed.
Board members asked whether the intent was daily school screening; Reeves said the devices are portable and the district did not plan to install them permanently at building entrances for daily student entry. After brief discussion, the board approved the superintendent's recommendation to purchase the Open Gate system by voice vote; no roll‑call tally was recorded.
The agenda packet includes technical information but did not specify vendor delivery dates or ongoing maintenance costs; the administration said further procurement details would follow.
