California School District Implements Visitor Management System

California School District Implements Visitor Management System

Delano Union School district enhances school security with system that scans visitors and acts as a mass notification device.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • November 26, 2018

In an effort to increase school security, Delano Union School District in California has implemented a visitor management system at its 12 schools. The system, which was recently rolled-out to all schools after finishing its pilot programs in Texas, allows administration to monitor the people who come to campus as well as check to ensure they are authorized to enter.

The system also allows the school to send rapid alerts in an emergency situation, something DUSD was very interested in implementing on their campuses, according to District Director of Safety and Security James Hay.

The mass notification function of the Raptor system provides quick alerts to school and district administration as well as local law enforcement of possible or pending emergency situations. Site administrators will be able to rapidly respond to a security breach, decreasing the likelihood of a catastrophic event on their campus.

The visitor management side of the Raptor system makes every campus visitor sign in with the front desk with an identification card. These IDs are scanned, which runs the information through federal Megan's Law database to assure that a registered sex offender is not entering the campus. If the person is cleared, they are issued a badge that states their name, the date and time, and the campus at which they have been scanned.

"If someone does not have their ID," Hay told local news. "They will neither be able to enter the campus, nor pick up a child." 

In addition to the Raptor system, DUSD has also installed buzzers at the entrance of the school's office during 2018 to provide another layer of protection. 

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

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