New security measure coming to Worland schools Monday

WORLAND – Schools in Worland will be using a new Raptor security system as a preventative measure to ensure whoever is entering the building is safe to be with children starting this Monday, Jan. 6.

The new security system will scan a driver's license from visitors wanting to enter the building, to make sure that the person entering the building is safe to be with students. This system will only be in place at the schools within the district, and not at offices for the district such as the central offices.

"The system checks you against sex offender databases, both local and national," Business Manager Jack Stott said. "It is also a visitor management system, so we can know who is in the facility at all times."

Stott also said that the schools will have the capacity to put in information regarding custody issues between parents that are known to make sure that a certain parent is allowed to see a child.

The system will not be required to be used if you are just dropping something off at the front desk, or picking a child up at the front desk.

"This will not be an inconvenience for those parents and people who are dropping off things because they are not going into the building," Stott said. "That is a vast majority of people who are coming to the school anyways are to do those things."

The first time you visit the school, you will need to provide your driver's license for you to be placed in the system. Visitors and volunteers will need to gain entry each time, but you will not have to provide your license each time, but only have to provide your name.

This measure will be added on top of the already existing security systems that are in place at the schools in the district that require you to buzz in each time to enter the building.

The system will only be used during normal school hours, so an ID will not be required to enter the building for after-school activities such as sporting events or concerts. Major public events that occur during school hours will not require Raptor checks to enter the building.

Parents are encouraged to bring their ID at least the first couple of times once the system is active just to ensure that they are in the system for future activities.

It is currently unclear if the system is shared between the schools and if you only have to present your ID at only one school to be in the system. This would allow for the identifications to be in the entire district system to be shared between each school if you have children in multiple schools.

Every staff member will have a new ID card to enter into the school, and Stott mentioned how staff go through a more thorough background check initially during the hiring process to ensure they are safe to be around children in the first place.

Parents who are on a sex offender registry must have entry to the school cleared through an administrator prior to attempting to enter the building if they wish to see their child.

On top of the new Raptor system being installed, there will be renovations to the front entrance of the high school this summer, followed by the middle school and then the elementary schools to help improve security at the front of the schools.