Safety issues call for identification card system

The Staples handbook states that before a student leaves school, the Assistant Principal’s (AP’s) O ce must receive a written request or phone call from the student’s parents, or the parent can physically request a dismissal in the AP’s o ce. Additionally, students must sign out at the front desk before leaving and sign back in as well as bring a note upon returning.

But, let’s be honest... those rules are broken more often than they are followed.

Instead of instituting a policy that entices students to break the rules and sneak in and out of the building, the Editorial Board proposes implementing an identi cation card system as a better method of tracking students’ whereabouts. Doing so will improve school security and hold students accountable for breaking rules regarding o -campus policy.

Honesty and security:

When sitting at lunch students see a group of their peers, Starbucks in hand searching for a door to enter the building.

Because all the doors to the school are locked for safety purposes, students who are sneaking back in resort to banging on the doors in the hopes that another student will open the door for them, which is also not allowed. e pressure for students to let their peers in creates an unsafe environment as students could potentially let people in who are a threat to the school.

e adoption of an identi cation card system would provide a viable remedy to both the issue sneaking out and of students opening the doors for their peers. Because identi cation cards would track where students are in the building and when they enter, students would be less apt to sneak out because they would be held accountable for their actions. In addition, students would be able to scan themselves into the building, eliminating their need to bang on the door and the risk of letting unsafe people into the building.

How they work:

A possible concern with providing students swipe cards might be that students could access the school when it is not properly supervised. However, there are ways around this issue. In order to make sure that students are not able to enter the building outside of school hours, the scanning devices would be shut o at the end of the day and on weekends.

As a bonus, the scanning system could function as a means to quickly tally students in emergency situations. For example, if there is a lockdown, the identi cation cards could be used to keep track of the students who are pulled into classrooms from the hallway.

Another concern might be that scan cards could be lost and fall into the wrong hands. But, once again, there is a simple solution. If an identi cation card is lost, the student can report the missing card and it can be deactivated.

Examples:

Other school districts around the state have already implemented the use of identi cation cards. Middletown Public Schools implemented ScholarChip kiosks at the main o ce, bus loop and student-parent drop o entrances around the buildings of their high school and middle school, according to FOX61. e students carry their student IDs with them all day and their attendance is managed via the ScholarChip kiosks. Middletown Public Schools established this system as a means of improving the attendance and safety of the students.

Conclusion:

Under the current sign-in/ sign-out system, Staples students have akey attendance, write fake passes and sneak in and out of school hiding from Dana’s security car patrolling the perimeter of the building. e board proposes that Staples implements an identi cation card system for students as a means of improving the safety and attentiveness of the Staples community. e Editoral Board voted 12-2 in favor of this opinion.

Scan

Rise in dangerous drop offs lead to increased security measures

Matthew Stashower ’25 Sports Editor

School drop o s have become hazardous recently, as teachers have reported a substantial rise in the number of parents speeding past stop signs in order to drop o their children at school before 8:00 a.m.

English teacher Daneille Spies recalled a recent incident at the three-way stop near where the buses drive in and school faculty park. According to Spies, three cars were forced to stop as a student attempted to use a crosswalk.

“ e student was set to go,” Spies said. “ e car in front of me decided to make the left turn and almost hit the student and we were all shocked.”

After Spies reported the incident, she was informed by the administration that there would be an increase in the number of security guards during the morning dropo in order to prevent incidents.

“We [now] have our security guard out there most mornings by that three way stop sign,” Principal Stafford W. omas Jr. said. With the introduction of security guards during morning dropoffs, drivers have become more respectful of school tra c rules.

“I try to get out there as often as I can [...] we’re out there 3-4 times a week, whenever the weather allows,” school security guard Ralph Morzello said. “It’s hard to physically stop them from [recklessly speeding], but to have a presence out there...it seems to help.”

Local Briefs

June 3

Grammy-nominated Jazz singer at Levitt Pavilion

Grammy award winning jazz singer Samara Joy will perform at the Levitt Pavilion for the Performing Arts on Saturday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. Joy was named Best New Artist at the 2023 Grammy Awards, where she also won Best Jazz Vocal Album.

Mia Bomback ‘25 Features Editor

However, the presence of security guards at morning dropo s hasn’t always prevented close calls between students and fast drivers.

“One day I was walking to school and all of the sudden a car came bombing into the main entrance,” Max Levy ’25 said. “I had to dodge to get out of the car’s way.” e school had previously installed speed bumps to prevent people from driving too fast on campus but removed them for the winter to make it easier for snowplows to go through. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, speed can reduce vehicle speeds by approximately 10 miles per hour.

“We will return [the speed bumps] for the fall,” omas said.

Although drop o s have gotten better since the addition of security guards, Spies still thinks the school can improve its tra c for walkers.

“We can mark more crosswalks,” Spies suggested. “[ e Staples parking lot is] not friendly for students who are walkers.”

June 3-4

Dance performance at Bedford Middle School

Westport Academy of Dance will perform their end-of-year recital at Bedford Middle School. e performances are broken up by age group, with the youngest dancers performing at 10 a.m. on June 3 and the oldest dancers performing at 1 p.m. on June 4.

June 4

Jam creation workshop at Wakeman Town Farms

Master jam preserver Pam Lillis will lead a workshop at Wakeman Town Farms on Sunday, June 4, from 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Participants will learn how to make berry and stone fruit jam, as well as how to incorporate jam into a myriad of recipes.