Securly Pass’ digital hall pass system was introduced to Klein Forest on Aug. 28. Students can now create passes digitally, giving teachers and administrators live information including how many students are in the hallway at once, where they are, where they’re coming from, and where they’re going.
“It helps us from a safety perspective,” assistant principal Desmond Robinson said. “We could look on the program, how many students are in either one of the restrooms, and then we can quickly get those kids back to where they’re supposed to be.”
Some teachers believe the new system is easy to navigate and more efficient than handwritten passes. Computer science teacher Juan Duran constantly wrote passes and had to get more every other week.
“With the E-hall pass system, I don’t have to worry about that at all. It’s less disruption for my class than it has been in the past,” Duran said.
As of the publication date, when the hallways reach a limit of 50 students at once or during the first and last 15 minutes of class, the system automatically restricts students from creating a pass. English teacher Andrew Granovski appreciates how the system puts the burden of creating a pass on students.
“I don’t have to keep track of 15 minutes between,” Granovski said. “What is 15 minutes after? What is 15 before? It’s too much mental gymnastics that I have to do in the middle of teaching.”
Students are limited to three passes a week and feel the limit is unfair.
“That’s kind of crazy, some kids have bladder control issues. They have to use the restroom when they have to use the restroom,” junior Taleah Simmons said. “That could mess up a students’ bladder. That’s not good for anyone. I don’t think that’s very healthy.”
Although the digital hall pass makes classroom routines smoother, students cannot create passes on lockdown browser, and teachers have trouble overriding the limitations during emergencies.
“I think that the 15 minutes is supposed to apply to just regular traffic, but things like a nurse or the main office should be available at all times,” AP statistics teacher Emily Righter said.
According to principal Lance Alexander, paper passes can be used for large numbers of students, such as counselors pulling out students for scheduling, and emergency situations. Alexander said teachers can also override certain limitations by pressing an override key, though some teachers have had trouble locating this feature.
Administrators are working through technical issues and believe the system will be fully integrated with time. Even with a school made up of 3500 students and 250 teachers, Alexander has noticed consistency from teachers using the system.
“I plan on keeping it as long as it’s effective,” Alexander said. “Right now, the whole reason we went to that is, it helps us ensure kids are in class learning.”
