As you may have read in our October Newsletter, on November 1 we will implement two new security measures for our students and staff. This message is designed to provide you with more information about both. The District’s primary goal is to maintain a safe and nurturing environment for all students to learn and grow.
Two Updates to District 102 Security Measures:
1. We will implement a Visitor Sign-in system called Safe Visitor. This security system is designed to ensure that all visitors to D102 buildings are listed in PowerSchool as approved for student pickup and are not on a sex offender database.
In order to implement this new system:
Starting on November 1, all visitors to D102 schools and the District Office will be asked to provide an ID or Driver’s License when entering the building. This ID/license will run through the Safe Visitor System, and a D102 Visitor ID badge will be created.
All Visitors will be asked to wear their Visitor ID on a school-issued lanyard for the duration of their visit and return the lanyard to the front office when their visit is concluded.
All visitors should only enter a district building through the Main Entrance. Staff will direct visitors attempting to any other door to the Main Entrance. In most buildings, this is Door # 1.
The entire check-in process takes approximately 30 seconds. Please take a minute to watch this video we created to show how easy and fast the new sign-in system is.
Once a visitor is checked in, they will be buzzed through a second secure door to proceed to the classroom or activity they are visiting.
We know that this new system will take a little getting used to and some may forget their ID. We will provide a ‘grace period’ extending from Wednesday, November 1 through Monday, November 13, for visitors to acclimate to this new system. During that time, visitors will be checked in even if they forget their ID. After November 13, visitors without an ID will be politely asked to retrieve and provide an ID before entering.
Here is an FAQ that addresses some of the questions that D102 families and staff have already asked about this new system. This FAQ will be posted to our website and updated as new questions arise.
2. Also, on November 1, in addition to the Visitor Check-in system, we will implement a modification to our existing Open Campus lunch protocol. Starting on November 1, we will require that an adult be present when a child leaves the building for any reason, including during lunch. We must ensure that all students are under adult supervision at all points from the beginning of the school day until the bell at the end of the day. During Open Campus lunch, students will only be released to parents or guardians identified in PowerSchool for school pick-up.