Marion County outlines metal-detector screening, bag policy and officer plans for busy graduation season
May 22, 2026 | Marion, School Districts, Florida
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District operations and safe-schools teams presented a detailed plan for Graduation 2026 that adds weapon-detection systems, clarifies a no-bag policy with ADA exceptions, expands screening points at larger venues and sets minimum law-enforcement staffing targets.
Mr. Whitehouse told trustees the district purchased Open Gate metal-detector systems that will be used at each graduation site and that ADA-accessible secondary screening points will be available for people who cannot pass through a detector. "We'll just slide those folks right in there. We have a wand that we can screen them with," he said.
Staff also described a new bag policy (no bags except limited ADA exceptions) and said the district provided Sky alert messages, a media release in April and school-level reminders. Several trustees said the policy had not been sufficiently publicized to the general ticket-holding public and asked staff to pin social posts and reiterate the message. "If someone gets all the way and then they have a bag that they can't take in... I'm gonna say, how did we communicate our bag policy?" Chair Dr. James asked.
On security staffing and costs, Whitehouse said the district will request a minimum of 16 officers at major off-site venues plus five safe-schools officers; he provided venue cost examples: World Equestrian Center rental of $7,500 per graduation, Southeastern Livestock Pavilion rental $800, police detail $65 per hour with a four-hour minimum, and sound rentals where needed (one example $700).
Trustees also questioned audio coverage at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, noting past problems with floor monitors. Dr. Campbell asked staff to confirm stage monitors to ensure graduates and platform guests can hear speeches. Staff said they would investigate and, if necessary, add monitors or budget an enhancement.
The schedule: staff reviewed site-specific start times and gate-opening times (examples: Hillcrest gym at 11:00 a.m.; Lake Weir gates at 4:30 p.m.; Bellevue gates at 4:15 a.m. on a school day; several ceremonies at WEC with four screening points) and described rainy-day contingencies (e.g., an indoor arena at WEC or rescheduling to the next day if necessary).
What’s next: staff will refresh public communications around the no-bag policy, confirm audio-monitor plans for problem venues, and proceed with the security staffing and screening rollouts ahead of first ceremonies.
Mr. Whitehouse told trustees the district purchased Open Gate metal-detector systems that will be used at each graduation site and that ADA-accessible secondary screening points will be available for people who cannot pass through a detector. "We'll just slide those folks right in there. We have a wand that we can screen them with," he said.
Staff also described a new bag policy (no bags except limited ADA exceptions) and said the district provided Sky alert messages, a media release in April and school-level reminders. Several trustees said the policy had not been sufficiently publicized to the general ticket-holding public and asked staff to pin social posts and reiterate the message. "If someone gets all the way and then they have a bag that they can't take in... I'm gonna say, how did we communicate our bag policy?" Chair Dr. James asked.
On security staffing and costs, Whitehouse said the district will request a minimum of 16 officers at major off-site venues plus five safe-schools officers; he provided venue cost examples: World Equestrian Center rental of $7,500 per graduation, Southeastern Livestock Pavilion rental $800, police detail $65 per hour with a four-hour minimum, and sound rentals where needed (one example $700).
Trustees also questioned audio coverage at the Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, noting past problems with floor monitors. Dr. Campbell asked staff to confirm stage monitors to ensure graduates and platform guests can hear speeches. Staff said they would investigate and, if necessary, add monitors or budget an enhancement.
The schedule: staff reviewed site-specific start times and gate-opening times (examples: Hillcrest gym at 11:00 a.m.; Lake Weir gates at 4:30 p.m.; Bellevue gates at 4:15 a.m. on a school day; several ceremonies at WEC with four screening points) and described rainy-day contingencies (e.g., an indoor arena at WEC or rescheduling to the next day if necessary).
What’s next: staff will refresh public communications around the no-bag policy, confirm audio-monitor plans for problem venues, and proceed with the security staffing and screening rollouts ahead of first ceremonies.
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