Posted July 30, 2025

MEDIA RELEASE

Brooksville, Fla. – The Hernando County School District is incorporating the use of the portable Opengate Weapons Detection System to bolster ongoing district-wide safety and security measures. The system is scheduled to begin being utilized within the first month of the upcoming school year.   

“The safety and well-being of our students is a top priority to us at the Hernando County School District, and we believe this system will help aid our efforts to continue providing a safe and secure learning environment,” said Ray Pinder, Hernando County School District Superintendent.

The Opengate system is designed to detect various prohibited items and will be deployed on a random rotational basis across the district beginning with middle, high and K-8 schools sometime during the first month of school.

The HCSD Office of Safe Schools plans to use the device to mitigate and deter prohibited items from being brought on campus, helping to further enhance overall school safety.

“Safety is an ever-evolving concern requiring the constant need for adaptable and innovative solutions to address possible future vulnerabilities. Having the opportunity to utilize resources like Opengate provides an increased ability for our district to more effectively provide a safe and secure environment for our students,” said Angel Pagan, Director of HCSD Office of Safe Schools.

More than 25 Florida school districts and hundreds across the U.S. currently use the Opengate system in some capacity to help supplement safety and security measures.