Lathe, mill; weapons detection among new equipment purchases approved by Triad Board

By Charles Bolinger

Editor • To end the March 23 Triad Board of Education meeting, the board approved three new purchases.

First, as part of the career and technical renovations at Triad High School, the technical education department needs to replace its lathe and mill in the lab at a cost of $262,002 from Zimmerman-McDonald Machinery, Inc., in St. Louis. The update is critical in students’ training and overall experience in manufacturing and will replace at least one unit that is non-functional.

Next, the district board bought the OpenGate Weapons Detection System for Triad High School at a cost of $50,357.50.

The district proposes implementing two lanes of OpenGate weapons detection systems at Triad High School during large volume after-school extracurricular athletic events to enhance student and community safety.  

These systems will be used for home varsity football and basketball games along with other events that may be high volume, such as outdoor graduation.  

Each OpenGate lane is engineered to accommodate approximately 2,000 individuals per hour, providing a combined throughput capacity of 4,000 visitors hourly, sufficient to efficiently screen large crowds without creating bottlenecks at event entrances.  

OpenGate represents state-of-the-art weapons detection technology specifically designed for high-traffic venues such as stadiums, schools and athletic facilities. The system features multi-caliber weapons detection with industry-leading accuracy and minimal nuisance alarms, allowing people to pass through with backpacks, purses and bags without having to take out items. Each portable unit weighs 25 pounds, requires less than one minute to set up and needs no mechanical or electrical connections between the two detection pillars. By deploying two lanes during high-traffic events, the district can maintain a welcoming atmosphere for the school community while significantly enhancing safety protocols at athletic competitions and extracurricular gatherings.

Finally, the board approved a Carehawk CH2000 IP Intercom System for Marine Elementary at a cost of $123,868. This is the same system now in use at Silver Creek and Henning elementary schools. The funding for this will come from the district’s capital projects fund.

The next Triad School Board meeting will be April 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the district’s administration building, 203 E. Throp St., in Troy.