RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN – Students across Rutherford County returned to school from the extended Labor Day Weekend on Tuesday (September 2, 2025) with a new layer of security waiting at the front doors of their schools. For the first time, every county-operated campus began the school day with fully operational weapons detection systems in place.

Dr. Jimmy Sullivan, Director of Rutherford County Schools, closely monitored the flow of students into each school building on Tuesday, talking with SROs and administrators throughout the morning to determine if any adjustments might be needed. He also highlighted...

The new scanners, called OpenGate, were developed by CEIA and are already in use at schools across the country, including Lee County, Florida; Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia; and, closer to home, Manchester City Schools in Tennessee. Rutherford County is now the first K–12 district in the state to implement the system countywide, covering all 51 campuses, not including the district’s virtual school.

OpenGate is a weapons detection system designed for fast but reliable screening of people with their backpacks, purses, and bags. The free-standing detectors are designed to spot weapons while allowing everyday items such as cell phones, coins, and keys to pass through without delay. Students walk through the scanners individually, while laptops and three-ring binders are handed to staff before entry. If an alert is triggered, staff will provide additional screening, though actual searches may only be conducted by a limited number of trained personnel at each school. The Director of Schools told WGNS on Tuesday...

Visitors and late-arriving students are also required to check in through the front office and pass through the detection system before entering.

A Countywide First

While adding this technology comes with a learning curve, school leaders say the investment reflects a strong commitment to safety. District officials also report that this new system is part of an already multi-layered approach to security within Rutherford County Schools.

Currently, the local county schools appear to be the only district in Tennessee implementing this level of security across all K–12 campuses — all in the name of keeping students and the schools they attend, safe. For more details about the OpenGate system and safety information, Click Here.