Apalachee High School installs weapons detection systems following tragic shooting
Apalachee High School installs weapons detectors
Students at Apalachee High School had a digital learning day Monday as crews installed weapons detectors on campus. It comes just days after a student brought a gun to school and four months since the deadly shooting on campus, killing two students and two teachers.
BARROW COUNTY, Ga. - Apalachee High School students participated in virtual learning on Monday as the school installed OpenGate Weapons Detection Systems, marking the Barrow County School System’s latest step to enhance campus safety. This move comes months after a deadly shooting on Sept. 4, 2024, which claimed the lives of two students and two teachers, and just days after another student brought a gun to campus.
Parents expressed mixed reactions to the new security measures. While many welcomed the added protection, some criticized the school board for delays in implementing the changes. "It should not have taken another child to bring a gun into the school for them to actually take action," said Ivia Carter, whose daughter, a sophomore, continues to struggle with anxiety stemming from the September shooting. "She doesn’t want to be in crowds; she gets nervous when she hears loud noises. It’s going to be a long process to heal."
During an emergency meeting last Thursday, the Barrow County School Board approved $700,000 to install the detection systems at all county high schools. This decision was made less than 24 hours after the latest gun incident at Apalachee High.
OpenGate Weapons Detection Systems were installed at Apalachee High School in Barrow County on Jan. 13, 2025. (Supplied)
The new OpenGate system, known for its advanced weapon detection capabilities, will require all students, staff, and visitors to pass through, upon entering the school. Faculty and staff trained on the devices on Monday, with students set to use them starting Tuesday. The system, which differentiates between weapons and harmless metal objects, is designed to minimize disruptions. However, Carter voiced concerns over additional security gaps, particularly regarding portable classroom pods. "They feel like they don’t have any protection because they have to walk outside to the pods, and there’s no security there," Carter said.
Following the September tragedy, the school board hired more school resource officers and equipped classrooms with emergency phones. Despite these efforts, parents like Carter say more needs to be done. "Gwinnett County, right next to us, has implemented things like clear bookbags," she said. "Even something as simple as that hasn’t been done here."
School board officials defended their actions, emphasizing their commitment to student safety. "Our goal is to protect students, and we will continue working with parents to improve safety measures," the board chair said during last week’s meeting.
OpenGate Weapons Detection Systems were installed at Apalachee High School in Barrow County on Jan. 13, 2025. (Supplied)
The district advises students to arrive 15 minutes early during the initial weeks of the new system to accommodate the screening process. Items like laptops, metal water bottles, and notebook spines may require additional inspection.
Apalachee High’s installation is the first step in a countywide rollout, with similar systems planned for Winder-Barrow High School and Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy in the coming weeks.
The Source: This article sources its information from Barrow County Schools along with original reporting from FOX 5's Kim Leoffler.