PEORIA, Ill. – The Peoria Public School Board reviewed several AI metal detector plans presented Monday night by the district’s Director of School Safety Demario Boone.
A contract with Evolv, Xtract One and Ceia Opengate would put new security systems in each of PPS’ three high schools.
Boone said the cheapest option is Opengate, at a cost of $173,650, with PPS owning the metal detectors. Evolv would cost $487,790 for a four-year lease. And, Xtract One would cost $1,096,000 for a five-year plan.
Boone shared his recommendation with the school board after seeing each system in action.
“These three were all really good systems. We really wanted to make sure we had a whole team approach where everybody was looking at these step by step. We made sure that the principals were involved. And, the one that was selected with the group in mind was Ceia Opengate,” Boone said.
“Opengate was really able to boast having interaction with people as they are coming and going…not just keeping an eye stuck to an i-Pad or something like that,” Boone said.
Xtract One is the only company whose plan did not include AI metal detectors at the three high schools.
School Board member Martha Ross said she wants to support the plan to make the high schools safer, but the plan needs to expand further.
“We have to do something for the middle schools before phase 2 or 3. You know what I’m saying. The history and all the research out there says that’s what needed,” Ross said.
The school board will vote on which company they’ll choose at their Oct. 27 meeting.
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