Ohio District Uses Technology to Secure Schools

Ohio District Uses Technology to Secure Schools

New Albany-Plain Local Schools is using technology to secure their schools and make their lunch payment systems more efficient.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • March 21, 2019

New Albany-Plain Local Schools is using technology to secure their schools and make their lunch payment systems more efficient.

The district is implementing biometrics at the elementary school level. Instead of reciting their student ID numbers to pay for lunch, elementary school students now have their fingerprint photographed by a biometric scanner.

"It’s very good because it increases efficiency in the lunch line, and you don’t have to worry about that kid forgetting their number," said Patrick Gallaway, director of communications for the school district. "All the kids are scanned at the beginning of the year. That’s all they have to do when they go through their lunch line now."

Technology is also being used at the middle and high school level to secure campus buildings. Students in the seventh through twelfth grades, along with staff members, are given security badges that allow them access into their respective school buildings.

No badges have been reported lost so far, but the administration said they do have a plan in case a student loses their badge, which can keep it from being used by someone with ill intent.

"All of these badges are made in house," Gallaway said. "They can be deactivated at any time. So,as long as we know that a badge is gone missing or a student needs to get a replacement, they can deactivate the one they had issued."

Every school door is kept locked, and visitors cannot enter until they are allowed inside by a staff member.

"All of our buildings on our campus have a secure vestibule. So, when you come to any of our buildings...you need to be buzzed into the vestibule first and then buzzed into the main office,” Gallaway said.

Visitors receive a temporary badge that allows them access to the buildings for a limited time.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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