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Brentwood UFSD to pilot ‘Evolve’ screening system at high school for three days; staff say pilot is low-impact and no-cost
Summary
Director Dr. Vincent Leone announced a three-day proof-of-concept trial of the Evolve smart-sensor screening system at Brentwood High from Dec. 16–18 to test whether the technology can identify prohibited items without slowing arrival routines; staff said the trial is at no cost and will be evaluated before any policy recommendation.
Dr. Vincent Leone, director of programs and policy, told the board the district will run a three-day pilot of a new screening system called Evolve at Brentwood High School to test whether the technology fits the district’s layered approach to school safety. “From Tuesday, December 16 through Thursday, December 18, we will be piloting a new safety screening tool at the high school called Evolve,” Leone said.
Leone framed the pilot as part of a broader, multi-layered safety strategy that pairs positive school culture (PBIS and restorative practices) with physical-security measures. He said the pilot is limited in scope, will be staffed by employees who complete virtual awareness training followed by additional in-person training for select operators, and will be provided at no cost to the district or community. “This proof of concept pilot is being provided at no cost to the district or community,” Leone said.
Michael Rodriguez, the district’s assistant security director, described the system as mobile, visually unobtrusive and used in other settings such as hospitals and large venues. He said it can support high throughput and need not slow regular arrival routines. On the system’s detection scope, Rodriguez said it “focuses more on weapons detection and hard metals,” not primarily on small items such as vapes.
Staff said students would walk through the system at normal pace, backpacks may remain on, and the unit will notify staff if it detects an item that violates the Brentwood code of conduct; secondary searches would follow established procedures when alerts occur. The district plans to analyze results after the three-day trial and share findings with the community before any long-term recommendation or board policy is advanced.
Questions from board members covered whether the system resembles an airport checkpoint and where units would be placed. Staff said the pilot will begin at main entrances and that units are mobile so placement decisions would follow the pilot’s data and subsequent board discussion. Staff also said they have begun community notification (initial letter on ParentSquare) and will continue transparent communication about the pilot’s progress.
Next steps: run the three-day pilot, analyze data, and report results to the board and community before any decision about purchase or broader deployment.
