BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — Brevard Public Schools is expanding weapons screening to its middle schools, starting at Central Middle School.
The district plans to add the walk-through OpenGate systems in phases, with all middle schools expected to have them by March 2027.
What will students need to do?
Students and visitors will walk through the screening systems as they enter school buildings. The systems check for weapons and other prohibited items and are designed to keep students moving with minimal delays.
If the system sounds an alert:
- The person will walk through a second time.
- If it alerts again, staff will direct them to a separate screening area, where personal items may be checked.
When will families hear more?
The district says each middle school will notify families before screening begins on its campus. Those messages will explain what students and parents should expect.
Surtax dollars are paying for the expansion. The district previously installed OpenGate systems at all 16 traditional high schools, finishing that rollout in March 2025.
The systems are already in use locally
Channel 9 previously reported that an OpenGate system detected a weapon as a student entered Cocoa High School in February 2025. The district said the weapon was confiscated, the student was taken into police custody and everyone on campus was safe.
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