District safety director reports no guns found after units deployed; more than 300 vapes recovered

The Dorchester School District 2 safety director (Mr. Jaya) told trustees Aug. 12 that the district's phased deployment of OpenGate weapons-detection units and K-9 Chester has produced a detectable effect on campus safety.

"After we purchased the units and after we got Chester, we did not have a single gun found inside the buildings," the director said, adding that one firearm had been discovered after school at an after-school event and involved an adult, not a student. He described a randomized deployment strategy—scanning classes or bus riders at unpredictable times—and told the board the district will track usage, timing and locations this school year.

Secondary results and operations: the director said the units recovered more than 300 vape devices when sensitivity was set to detect smaller metallic items and that the K-9 Chester is trained and regularly tested using cloths with firearm residue. The OpenGate system can be adjusted from a conventional metal-detector setting to higher sensitivity levels that distinguish vapes, knives and larger firearms without requiring students to empty pockets or bags.

Coordination with law enforcement: director said the Somerville Police Department began digital mapping of school facilities that the district will extend and integrate with consolidated dispatch so first responders can pull up camera feeds and maps in an emergency. The director also said a meeting with SRO leadership would address a recent proviso tied to open-carry concerns for 18-year-olds.

Rollout and timing: the director said units will be added to middle schools pending procurement; once ordered, deliveries generally take eight to 12 weeks. Staff emphasized the deployment is intended to be a deterrent and that district leaders plan to begin systematic data collection this year to evaluate effectiveness.