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Chesterfield school board approves $2.8 million weapons-detection system for middle and high schools
Summary
The Chesterfield County School Board voted unanimously to approve procurement of an Open Gate weapons-detection system, accepting a local vendor's quote of just under $2.8 million for 149 lanes to be installed across 28 secondary schools; county supervisors are scheduled to appropriate funding on May 28.
The Chesterfield County School Board voted unanimously on May 13 to approve memo 078-25, authorizing procurement of a weapons-detection screening system for all middle and high schools.
Board staff presented results from demonstrations of two systems and recommended the Open Gate product, saying it offered flexibility and good throughput for school entry points. Josh Davis, the staff presenter, told the board the district obtained a local-vendor quote just under $2,800,000 to buy 149 screening lanes that would be distributed across 28 schools, with staffing and lane counts varying by facility size. He said counties supervisors are prepared to consider appropriation on May 28 to enable summer implementation.
Supporters said the system is intended to reduce the chance that deadly weapons are carried into schools. Davis described demonstrations at Meadowbrook High and Robius Middle where staff trained and ran large numbers of students through the systems and observed manageable numbers of alarms that staff could address discreetly. He told the board, “Staff is able to watch that, then take students subtly to the side, take a quick look in terms of what they're carrying so they can discover what in fact set off the system.”
Board members asked logistical questions about nonstandard entries such as trailers. Davis responded that trailer entries would be routed through screening lanes, with temporary barriers or adjusted traffic flow used as needed so all arriving students pass through a lane.
During the public comment period earlier in the meeting, Kara Abbott, a parent who said she spoke previously on the subject, urged the board to vote yes and described the measure as a needed step despite recognizing it is not a perfect solution. “I hope you'll vote yes for this initiative to bring this to our schools,” Abbott said.
The board moved and seconded the procurement motion; the clerk called the roll and each member recorded an aye. The approval authorizes procurement consistent with the presented quote and plan; the district will finalize vendor contracts and coordinate appropriation with the Board of Supervisors prior to implementation.
What happens next: The superintendent's office will work with procurement and county staff to finalize purchase and installation timelines, and the county board of supervisors is expected to consider funding on May 28.
