In this featured piece by InMaricopa, the outlet reports on Maricopa Unified School District’s rollout of a new “Visitor Aware” digital check-in pilot program to help bolster campus security. Visitors and volunteers check in with staff, scan an identification card, and receive a sticker badge, which they return when checking out. Tracey Pastor, MUSD assistant superintendent of administrative services, said the system helps keep schools safe and welcoming while letting staff know exactly who is on campus at any given time. The system verifies that visitors are not listed on sex offender registries or national and international watchlists, and parents can complete initial registration online to speed up the process.
Key Takeaways
- Maricopa Unified School District rolled out a “Visitor Aware” digital check-in pilot program to bolster campus security.
- The system checks a visitor’s name, date of birth, state, and gender against sex offender registries in all 50 states, as well as national and international watchlists such as FBI and Office of Foreign Assets Control lists.
- Tracey Pastor, MUSD assistant superintendent of administrative services, said the initial verification process takes about five minutes, while normal check-ins afterward take about a minute.
- Parents can complete registration online at home to expedite the initial verification process, and all personal information is stored and encrypted.
- The system texts a reminder if a visitor has not checked out after a certain amount of time, helping staff know who remains on campus.
Original Story
To help bolster security at Maricopa Unified School District campuses, a new “Visitor Aware” digital check-in pilot program was rolled out this week.
The system allows visitors and volunteers to check in with staff, scan an identification card and be issued a sticker badge, then return the badge upon checking out.
“Visitor Aware plays a key role in ensuring that our school remain safe and welcoming environments,” said Tracey Pastor, MUSD assistant superintendent of administrative services.
First-time visitors and volunteers are typically entered into the system and the bar code from an ID card verifies the information. Once approved, individuals are issued badges with photos that grant them access to a school.
The new program allows staff to know exactly who is on a campus at any given time. The system will text an individual as a reminder if he or she has not checked in a certain amount of time.