In this featured piece by South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB), the outlet reports on the Sioux Falls School District’s rollout of Visitor Aware, a new iPad-based check-in system now available at all 38 district school buildings. The system replaces pen-and-paper sign-in sheets, requiring guests and volunteers to present a photo ID and have their face scanned before the system checks sex offender databases, government watchlists, and active legal injunctions. Dave Osterquist, security coordinator for the district, said the change wasn’t a response to any heightened security risk but reflected the natural end of life for the district’s older, more expensive system. DeeAnn Konrad, community relations coordinator for the district, said the system saves time and gives front-office staff clearer information about whether a visitor is cleared to enter.
Key Takeaways
- Sioux Falls School District rolled out Visitor Aware, an iPad-based check-in system, across all 38 district school buildings.
- The system replaces pen-and-paper sign-in sheets, requiring visitors to present a photo ID and have their face scanned before checking sex offender databases, government watchlists, and active legal injunctions.
- Dave Osterquist, security coordinator for the district, said the switch was not a response to heightened security risks but was made because the district’s older system had become too expensive and its hardware was near the end of its useful life.
- One iPad running the system is placed at the front entrance of each school, while other entrances remain locked during school hours under existing security measures.
- If a visitor’s information is flagged, the system notifies the responsible staff member at the school, and the visitor may still be allowed to enter under administrative supervision.
Original Story
The Sioux Falls School District is adding new security software to its current protocols.
The software is called “Visitor Aware” and is an iPad app and available at all 38 district school buildings.
The system is used for all guests and volunteers and replaces the old pen and paper sign-in sheets. The system is installed on iPads and utilizes ID scanning and encrypts facial recognition to check sex offender databases, government watchlists, and active legal injunctions.
Dave Osterquist is the Security Coordinator for the Sioux Falls School District.
“So, if you’re coming to visit one of our schools, I would strongly recommend that you have a photo I.D. A government issued I.D. preferably your driver’s license or a state issued identification card. You will be asked to present that when you go to check into the building. You will have contact with the staff member that is responsible for the system. They will ask you to check in by first taking a photo of you using the iPad of your face and then you will scan the front and back of your driver’s license,” said Osterquist.