| School sign-in goes high-tech |
|
When Kelly Bradford picks up materials for her English as a Second Language students at Arlington Elementary school, she's in and out of the office in less than a minute. Bradford credits the school's new Ident-A-Kid computerized sign-in system in the school's front office with streamlining the process. "You don't have to wait in line anymore or explain what you're in the office for," said Bradford, who teaches at Tigrett Middle and Jackson Central-Merry High schools. "I'm in, and I'm out. l love it." Five of the school system's 28 schools are using a form of electronic check-in procedures for visitors.Arlington, Lincoln and Denmark elementaries currently use Ident-A-Kid, while Jackson Careers and Technology and North Parkway Elementary have been using a program called School Check-In for at least the past two years. Ident-A-Kid and School Check-In require a visitor or parent at one of the five schools to sign in using a laptop kiosk in the school's office. The laptop is equipped with a camera that takes a person's picture while they are typing in their name and purpose of their visit. Once a person has entered their information, a self-adhesive badge prints out for them to wear. Dionne Dixon, who is the secretary and bookkeeper at Denmark, said the system has made things easier in the office. "We're transitioning from paper to computer, and I think we've grown accustomed to it," Dixon said. "The computer system certainly makes things easier. Visitor reports can be printed out, and you don't have to figure out someone's handwriting." Pupil personnel and federal projects director Nathan Boyd said that while the electronic system is helpful in keeping students safe, there are other key players. "Student safety is also dependent upon parents, the police, other responsible adults and students themselves," he said.
|
