Opengate Detection Devices FAQ

• Take this time to remove items that may activate the screening units from your bag, including Chromebooks/laptops, electronic tablets (iPads or similar devices), and three-ring binders.

• While you can bring your backpack, purse, and/or sports bag through the screening units, please listen to staff at each screening area regarding your personal bags.

• Listen to staff at each screening area for directions regarding when to step forward and through the screening area.

• Pass any items that may activate the screening units from your bag, such as Chromebooks / laptops, electronic tablets (iPads, or similar devices) and three-ring binders, around the units to staff. They will be provided back to you promptly after walking through the screening area.

• Step through the screening units when directed to do so by staff.

• Once cleared, listen to staff at the end of the screening area for directions to leave the area and proceed through the building to your destination.

• Remember to check behind yourself to ensure you have collected all your belongings after going through the screening process, including those you passed around the units to staff and inside any bins you may have used.

If the light is GREEN when passing through the OPENGATE screening units, this means no potentially harmful objects have been detected.

• Once cleared, listen to staff at the end of the screening area for directions to leave the area and proceed through the building to your destination.

• Remember to check behind yourself to ensure you have collected all your belongings after going through the screening process, including those you passed around the units to staff and inside any bins you may have used.

• Once cleared, there will be no need for an additional bag check. - All CISD rules on bags still apply.

If the light is RED when passing through the OPENGATE screening units, this means something has been detected by the units. The red lights will be paired with an audible alert.

• If this occurs, listen to staff at your screening area for directions as they will guide you to a separate area nearby for secondary screening. This may include a check of your backpack, purse, sports bag, and/or other items you brought through the screening units.

• For more information, review the section, "What Happens if the OPENGATE Screening Unit Activates."

• If the OPENGATE screening unit activates, there will be an audible sound and the towers will illuminate with a red light.

• If this occurs, listen to staff at your screening area for directions as they will guide you to a separate area nearby for secondary screening. This may include a check of your backpack, purse, sports bag, and/or other items you brought through the screening units.

• You may also be asked to double-check your pockets to ensure something didn’t inadvertently activate the system.

• After the secondary screening, you will be asked to step through the screening units again.

• Once cleared, listen to staff at the end of the screening area for directions to leave the area and proceed through the building to your destination.

• Remember to check behind yourself to ensure you have collected all your belongings after going through the screening process, including those you passed around the units to staff and inside any bins you may have used.

If at any time you need assistance, including students and guests with disabilities, please speak to staff at the screening area to ensure your needs are met and supported.

Beginning the week of December 9, 2025, OPENGATE object detectors will be used at Community High School, Edge Middle School School, and Community Trails Middle School to screen students, staff, and visitors as they enter the building. The systems will also be used to screen all visitors to these buildings during the school day.

During the initial phase of the rollout, the machines are being calibrated and the screening process refined. There may be some delays in the beginning of the implementation; however, these delays will abate once students, staff, and visitors become accustomed to what items can pass through initial screening and the process itself is adjusted for efficiency.

The object detection scanners are more sensitive than traditional metal detectors. The technology in the system can more accurately identify metal sources that may be potentially harmful rather than sounding an alarm for all types of metal, such as coins.

The scanners, developed by a company called CEIA and called OPENGATE, are designed to screen large numbers of people, including their backpacks, quickly and efficiently. The free-standing scanners are portable and suitable for indoor and outdoor use, making them a good choice for open-style campuses and traditional school buildings.

Staff at the campuses with OPENGATE object detector units will manage and monitor the entry process throughout the day. Identified staff members will receive specific training on how to operate the screening equipment, resolve false alerts, evaluate the need for and carry out secondary screenings, and the protocols to follow if a prohibited item is found.

Students, staff, visitors, and guests will pass through the OPENGATE object detector units one at a time. Prior to stepping through the detector units, items should be removed from bags, such as Chromebooks / laptops, electronic tablets (iPads, or similar devices) and three-ring binders.

If the alarm sounds, the individual will step to the side for a secondary screening to determine the cause of the alarm.

If the system alerts as a student or visitor passes through (an alert will be denoted by an audible sound and red lights at the top of the OPENGATE), operators will direct the student or visitor to another nearby area, away from the primary screening lanes, to conduct a secondary screening. This allows the OPENGATE lanes to process students and visitors more rapidly.

It’s important to note that OPENGATE object detection systems may alert on some items that are allowed to be in our schools, including: Chromebooks / laptops, electronic tablets (iPads, or similar devices) and three-ring binders.

The purpose of secondary screening is to determine the reason for the alert. Secondary screening will first attempt to determine if the alert is originating from a permissible item, and whether the alerted item is on the individual or carried in their backpack or bag. Additional levels of screening may be necessary to include using a handheld device or conducting a search of their backpack or bag.

Secondary screenings are conducted by administrators and other designated staff who have been trained to manage these situations. Discretion, respect, and professionalism will be demonstrated to ensure the privacy and dignity of the individuals while prioritizing safety and security.

These systems are designed to provide fast and efficient screening of multiple people at the same time, allowing for a natural flow of entry. During the initial implementation, some delays may be experienced; however, the goal is to minimize any potential disruptions to the entry process.

The comfort of our students and visitors is essential to us alongside taking all steps to create secure learning environments in our schools.

Sensitivity settings will be decided by CISD Police and Security staff, with careful consideration of the District’s specific needs and requirements to ensure an optimal balance between maintaining security and minimizing false alerts.

Sensitivity levels may be increased for an added layer of safety and to enhance the system’s ability to detect weapons and other prohibited items, as well as provide additional peace of mind for the school community.

The safety screening technology can detect assorted items, including but not limited to knives, firearms, handguns, and long guns. Sensitivity settings can be adjusted to detect smaller items such as keys, electronic vaping devices, and other such objects. Campuses will periodically adjust settings and deploy during the school day to ensure safety.

If a weapon or prohibited object is found, police will take possession of it immediately. The person bringing the item(s) onto school property will face criminal charges by police and disciplinary action by the school aligned with the CISD Student Code of Conduct.

Any attempt to bring a firearm into a campus by any person will result in criminal charges.

If a student refuses to pass through the scanner, the parent will be called and the student will be sent home. If a building visitor refuses to pass through the scanner, they will not be permitted to enter further into the building.