By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — A new weapons detection system that utilizes artificial intelligence will be installed at five Rockford Public Schools by the start of next school year.
The Evolv Express system uses sensors and AI to identify potential safety threats as students, staff and visitors pass through mobile towers at a normal walking pace. The system is already in use at more than 400 schools across the country, according to Evolv.
This August, it will be installed at Auburn, Jefferson, East and Guilford high schools as well as Roosevelt Community Education Center.
“This state-of-the-art technology can quickly detect questionable items in jackets, backpacks and pockets, allowing those items and the people carrying them to be removed from our schools before the threat ever gets in,” Superintendent Ehren Jarrett said in a video posted by the district. “We all deserve to feel safe in our schools, and the new security scanners are just one tool we’re using to improve safety.”
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The Rockford School Board approved the installation earlier this year. The district will pay about $625,000 for a four-year contract to use 18 systems at the five schools.
In past years, the district has relied on limited use of metal detector wands and staff searches for security at school entrances.
“This is going to help remove another barrier for our students to have to think about ‘am I safe or not’ coming into our buildings,” said Jason Barthel, chief information officer for Rockford Public Schools.
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If the system detects a threat, a monitor displays where on the person’s body the potential weapon is located. A school administrator would then pull that person aside for a follow-up search. A school police officer would only be involved if the situation escalates, Barthel said.
“This technology, which is not a traditional metal detector, uses AI and identifies what is not just a metal but the composition of the metal and the shape of the metal,” said Jim Taff, principal at Apex3 Systems, an integrator for Evolv.
The towers are mobile and can be adjusted with varying levels of sensitivity. Taff also said the system’s software is frequently updated to improve the technology.
Fast facts | Evolv Express
How does it work? The system uses artificial intelligence and sensors to identify weapons. It consists of two towers that scan students, staff and visitors as they pass through at a normal walking pace. If the tower turns green, no weapons have been detected. The tower will light red and sound if a potential threat is identified.
What happens if a weapon is detected? A Rockford Public Schools staff member will be on hand with an Evolv tablet to scan the student, staff member or visitor and identify the location of the potential weapon. The person will then be pulled aside for a secondary search. Police will be present if needed.
What schools will use the system? East, Auburn, Jefferson and Guilford high schools and Roosevelt Community Education Center.
How much does it cost? The district will pay about $625,000 for a four-year contract to use 18 systems at the five schools.
RPS security system
Rockford Public Schools released this video to explain its new security system.
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas