Johnston County Public Schools' new $6 million weapons detection systems get installed at each school in the district
The 2023-24 school year will be the first where all Johnston County Public Schools will have weapons detection systems in place.
Each school among the district’s 48 total will have two security systems.
“All of our guests, no matter who they are will come through them,” said Caitlin Furr, the district executive director of communication. “It’s just an extra layer of security for our most precious asset, which is our students.”
One Evolv system will be at the building’s main entrance and another that can be used an alternate entrance where buses drop off. The main doors at all the schools are now equipped with an Evolv weapons detection system. It uses radio frequency sensors with artificial intelligence for screening to make sure no one brings things like guns or knives into a building.
The district has invested $6 million to install the Evolv systems.
“If the system were to go off, there’s a select group of people at the campuses that are trained to know what to do,” Furr said.
The second OpenGate system is portable and can also be used at heavily attended events such as football games.
The district began installing the Evolv systems in March.
Tressa Scott is among the parents who believe the investment by the school district is well worth it.
“I’m telling you, these kids [can easily] get their hands on things these days as well as the adults, so you just never know what’s [going to] happen,” Scott said. “As long as my kids are safe, I’m good to go.”
Scott was among the parents who attended Tuesday’s Summer Information Fair at Clayton Middle School.
“I’m glad [summer is] almost over,” Scott said. “They can go back to school and stop eating me out of house and home.”
The first day of class for the district’s traditional school calendar is Aug. 28.
