GJSD launches Raptor Visitor System on Monday, May 15
The safety of our school community is by far, the most important responsibility that we have here at the Greater Johnstown School District. School safety plans and procedures are constantly reviewed, practiced, and fine-tuned, in order to keep up with ever-changing threats. We are always looking for ways to continuously improve our safety protocols.
We are excited to be launching a new visitor security system at each of our buildings on Monday, May 15 called Raptor Visitor Management System, which will help the District screen and track every person who visits and enters the school. “This system further strengthens the safety and security measures here at Johnstown,” Alicia D. Koster, Assistant Superintendent said.
The system will use a visitor’s NY state driver’s license or other government-issued ID to instantaneously check the visitor against the sex offender registries in all 50 states. Raptor also has the ability to sync with the District’s student-information system (SIS) to confirm custodial rights. When a visitor is scanned and checked once, the system will maintain the visitor’s information, so that it becomes a one-time scan of the ID, unless there is a need to re-verify someone’s identity.
Approved visitors will be given detailed badges using the photo from their government ID. Badges will show the visitor’s name, destination, date and time of entry. Visitors will wear the badges throughout their visit and must return them to the office before leaving.
We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement this new system starting May 15. Even though you may personally know the person checking you in at one of our school buildings, staff members will still be required to run your photo ID through the Raptor system. We realize this might cause a slight inconvenience to our visitors, but hope you understand how critical this system will be to continuing to provide a safe place to work and learn for our staff and students. Please plan accordingly.
If you have any questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact Austin Heroth (Assistant Director of Technology) at aheroth@johnstownschools.org – or your building principal.