For the 2022-2023 school year, new security procedures including a coordinated hall pass system and a check-in have been added.

When a student needs to leave a classroom, they must now have a colored lanyard with them at all times. Each bathroom has a different color located above the doors that correspond with the lanyard colors from classes nearby. To use the restroom, students will have to wear the lanyard and stay in the vicinity of that bathroom.

“So for example, let’s say the [bathroom] outside Dr. Jones’ office is green. So anybody in world language or the art classes up there, their teacher’s card and name is probably green to coordinate with the bathrooms,” Principal Karen Calcaterra said.

Associate Principal Michael Franklin said the faculty decided to add the lanyards in response to previous years where students would ask to go to the bathroom and instead wander the hallways to get out of class. 

“Our teachers came up with that idea. So we met this summer a couple of times and we said ‘hey we’re having this issue as you can all see. What suggestions do we all have?’ And we all brainstormed,” Franklin said. 

There will be hall monitors and principals walking around to ensure that students are in the right place. Assistant Principal Kirti Mehrotra said if students are found in the wrong hallway, they will be escorted back to class by the hall monitor or principal who found them. It will also be added in Infinite Campus as a warning, so if they continue to be found in the wrong hallways, their privileges will be revoked. 

Lancer Parent Organization Treasurer Carren Rogan has become a temporary hall monitor as needed.

“Overall it’s been going fine, the seniors complain a lot, but life and change is hard. The freshmen get a little nervous when you ask them for their passes, but I think the halls are better. The kids are going where they’re supposed to be going,” Rogan said.

Some students, like junior Brooke Elston, oppose the new system.

“I think it’s a little bit unsanitary having to share passes. It’s kind of annoying to have to go to one specific bathroom. I feel like we should be able to go to any bathroom we want, even if it’s further away,” Elston said. “I mean I do understand why they do it, I just think it’s unnecessary for everyone.”

Although Rockwood has been using an in-house created visitor management system and student check-in system for several years, Rockwood’s guest check-in procedure is now powered through SchoolPass.

The new process includes four iPads located in the Welcome Center, which are used to sign visitors and students into the building.

“Now it has a lot more features. You type in your credentials, and adults who are not students in the building have to present a driver’s license and we scan it. [The system] puts it through a couple of checkpoints and prints out a visitor tag with their picture on it,” Calcaterra said.   

Visitors will have to wear the guest tag while in the building. This system is also a way to keep track of who is in the building and when. 

“I’m actually excited about [the new guest check-in procedures]. I think it’s going to be a great way to enhance security at the school for both parents, teachers and most importantly, our students and staff,” Rosean Zufall, Welcome Center receptionist, said. “There’s still a lot to learn about it, but overall I think it’s a great asset to the school.”

There are an additional eight iPads given to the school, which are used for checking into different rooms at Lafayette. These have been dispersed at different checkpoints throughout the building including the Guidance Office and Library. Students will be checking in and out as they move around different rooms in the building, similar to how students used to check in and out of the Library using a computer. 

Although Rockwood is still using an in-house system, Chief Information Officer Deborah Ketring said after the ransomware incident in the summer of 2021, the old program was not able to be restored.

“It would have required a complete change in programming,” Ketring said. “The system it was on was outdated and needed to be updated.” 

 Ketring hopes that it will help improve security in Rockwood buildings in general.

“This is just one very important component of our overall safety procedures that we are either implementing, reimplementing or have already put in place,” Ketring said.