Excelsior Charter Teams with Isotec to Bring OPENGATE Weapons Detectors to Campus

New screening hardware headed to Victorville as part of safety push

Excelsior Charter Schools is partnering with security firm Isotec Security to install OPENGATE weapons-detection systems at its Victorville campus, the district announced. The move is intended to add a new layer of protection for students and staff by screening for knives, firearms and other dangerous items before people step into school buildings.

School leaders said the technology will be used at entry points to reduce the chance that weapons reach classrooms. Officials framed the deal as a preventative measure meant to make the campus safer without creating long lines or major disruptions to daily routines.

What will be installed, where and when

The rollout begins at the Victorville campus and will focus on main entryways and high-traffic points where students, staff and visitors come and go. The district described the initial setup as a phased pilot: a small number of OPENGATE units will be installed first so staff can test how the systems work in a live school environment.

Isotec will handle installation and on-site setup, and the company will train school staff on how to operate the units and respond to alerts. The district has said it plans to monitor performance and gather feedback before deciding whether to expand the program to additional campuses in the charter network.

Officials say the units are intended to operate during school hours at controlled entry points. The systems will be part of standard screening procedures rather than a replacement for other safety steps such as staff presence, classroom locks or emergency protocols.

How OPENGATE is supposed to detect threats

OPENGATE is a stand-alone screening system that combines sensors and software to flag potential weapons as people pass through an entry zone. Isotec describes it as able to detect metallic weapons like guns and knives as well as a range of non-metallic threats, using a mix of sensors and pattern-recognition software to separate harmless items from potential risks.

The company says the system provides immediate alerts so staff can intercept a threat without stopping every person individually. Vendor materials highlight lab and field tests that show the system performing reliably, with relatively low rates of false alarms, according to Isotec. The district plans to review those performance results during the pilot.

Voices on the decision: school, vendor and community

A spokesperson for Excelsior Charter Schools said the decision reflects growing concern about campus safety and the need for modern tools. “We want to do everything reasonable to keep students and staff safe,” the spokesperson said. “This pilot will let us see how the system fits with our daily routines and safety plans.”

Isotec’s representative framed the technology as a measured, non-invasive option. “OPENGATE is designed to be fast and discreet while providing clear alerts to trained staff,” a company spokesperson said. “Our goal is to give schools another practical layer of protection without creating a policing atmosphere.”

Some parents and staff welcomed the extra step. A teacher at the campus described relief that the school was taking an active step. Others voiced caution: parents asked about how alarms would be handled in real time and wanted assurances about what data, if any, would be stored about screened individuals.

Broader safety trade-offs, costs and next steps

Adding detection units is a familiar step for districts trying to respond to threats without resorting to heavy security measures. But technology like OPENGATE raises trade-offs that schools must manage: privacy questions about what sensors capture, how long any data is retained, and how alerts are reviewed; training needs for staff who must assess and act on signals; and the ongoing costs of maintenance and updates.

False positives — when the system flags a harmless item — can disrupt classrooms and strain staff resources, and the district will watch that closely during the pilot. School leaders say they will publish results from the initial phase and discuss whether to expand the program at future board meetings. For now, the step is presented as an added layer of protection that aims to reduce risk while the district continues broader work on prevention, mental health supports and emergency planning.

Sources

• prnewswire.com