As part of Rockwood’s continuing efforts to enhance security at our schools and buildings, the district is introducing a new visitor management system for the 2022-2023 school year. 

Rockwood has contracted with SchoolPass to implement the new system, which is specifically designed for PK-12 schools. Visitors, volunteers, vendors and students who are late or leaving early sign in and out via an intuitive mobile or web-based app. Each visitor can be screened against the national sex offender list, and alerts are sent to administration and staff for risks. Customizable badges with photos are automatically printed at visitor check-in, and robust reporting allows Rockwood to see who is on campus, why and for how long. Not only will this new system improve the safety of our schools and streamline the check-in/check-out process, it will enable the district to effectively communicate with everyone in a building in the event of an emergency.

With SchoolPass, a visitor will sign in on an iPad at the main entrance, where they will use either their state-issued driver’s license or their unique digital ID, enter their destination, and a visitor badge with their photo will print immediately. The Rockwood staff member whom they are visiting will be notified by email and text message of their arrival when signed in. All visitors will remain in the main entrance corridor until a staff member is available to escort them to their location. The same is true for their departure: a staff member will walk them back to the main entrance to leave campus. For repeat visitors, we can issue digital IDs/mobile wallets, QuickPins and QR/barcodes to efficiently check in and check out of a building. 

“This new system provides added features over our existing system,” shared District Safety Officer Ty Dennis. “By utilizing digital IDs, our staff can quickly verify access authorization for visitors and parents while adding another layer of security for our schools.”

Staff and parents will receive an email from SchoolPass with their digital ID that they can save on their smartphone wallet (similar to a mobile boarding pass) that will allow them to check in and out seamlessly when they visit a building. Parents and staff who don’t use or have access to a smartphone will also be provided a QuickPin ID number to allow for seamless check in and out. At our elementary schools, the system will be used by parents to visit and check their students in or out if arriving late or leaving early. At our middle and high schools, students will use the system to check in and out when they arrive late to school, leave early and in areas like the school library. All parents, as well as middle and high school students, will receive their unique digital ID during the week before school starts in August. 

It is important to note that the only information Rockwood will access and store in this new system is the visitor’s first name, last name, date of birth, photo and visit information (time, date, who they visited and reason for visit).