HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Campuses of Huntsville City Schools' middle and junior high schools will soon have a new tool to use for keeping students and staff safe.
The district on Friday announced that it is starting to roll out a security system called "Opengate," which will be deployed at entryways and used for special events, such as extracurricular activities and athletic contests.
The devices will be installed in the next few weeks. Officials say they are similar to a system already in use at high schools.
"The goal of the new systems is to continue to promote campus safety while maintaining a smooth, efficient entry process for students," said Dr. Clarence Sutton, HCS Superintendent. "Our team has worked diligently over the past several months to configure and hire staffing for Opengate, and these new systems will be another important factor in our campus security protocols."
Administrators are asking for patience as delays are possible entering buildings during an acclimation process.
On Tuesday, an 8th-grade student was arrested after bringing multiple firearms to McNair Junior High School, according to Huntsville City Schools officials.
Campus security found the weapons during the school’s morning check using a weapon detection system. Inside the backpack, two handguns were found.
