- Anchorage School District
- Overview and Services
- Community Resources
- Raptor Visitor Management System
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ASD launches the Raptor Visitor Management System
district-wide during the 2024-25 school year
Background
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Student and staff safety is our top priority. In order to ensure that our schools are safe places for our students and staff, we are taking some additional steps to ensure we know who is in our buildings at all times.
The District is implementing a visitor management system to aid in the standardization of visitor check-in procedures in all schools, which complies with Board Policy 3515.5
Benefits of the Visitor System
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- Quick and accurate visitor identity verification.
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Enhanced ability to maintain a secure environment.
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Accurate records of building occupants for emergency response purposes.
How the Visitor System Works
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The visitor management system records the visitor’s name, date of birth and last four digits of the ID and checks against a national database of registered sex offenders.
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Adherence to School Board policy regarding sex offenders on campus.
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No other data from IDs is gathered or recorded, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
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Districtwide Implementation
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- The Anchorage School Board approved the funding for district-wide implementation during the April 9, 2024 School Board meeting memorandum #124
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The district-wide implementation of Raptor visitor management kiosks will begin in the fall of 2024 with additional schools being added each week. The rollout is expected to be completed by early spring semester.
Entry Requirements
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All adult visitors must present and scan a government-issued photo ID upon entry when visiting a school during school hours.
FAQs
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What information from the ID is gathered?Â
The visitor management system records the visitor’s name, date of birth, and last four digits of the ID and checks against a national database of registered sex offenders. No other data from IDs is gathered or recorded, ensuring privacy and confidentiality. -
Why is a Districtwide visitor management system being implemented?
The Anchorage School District (ASD) is implementing Raptor Technologies visitor management system during the 2024-2025 school year to standardize visitor check-in procedures in all schools and add an extra layer of safety for students and staff. The system allows visitors, staff, and students to sign in and out using the self-service kiosk.
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What are the benefits of the Raptor visitor management system?
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Quick and accurate visitor identity verification
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Enhanced ability to maintain a secure environment
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Accurate records of building occupants for emergency response
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When will Raptor visitor management kiosks be installed in schools?
The District-wide implementation of Raptor Technologies visitor management kiosks will begin in the fall of 2024 with additional schools being added each week. The rollout is expected to be completed by early spring semester.
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How does the sign-in/sign-out process work for visitors?
ASD requires all visitors entering a school building during school hours to show their government-issued photo ID and sign into the building. Visitors will sign-in/sign-out using the Raptor Technologies visitor management self-service kiosk. The visitor management system records the visitor’s name, date of birth and last four digits of the ID and checks against a national database of registered sex offenders. No other data from IDs is gathered or recorded, ensuring privacy and confidentiality.
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What if a person does not have a photo ID; can they still get into the school?
A principal will evaluate the purpose of the visit for visitors without a photo ID and make a determination. If access is granted, the visit will be monitored and limited solely to the area where the visitor needs to go. The visitor will be asked to provide their first and last name, as well as their date of birth to the Raptor system; this information will be checked against the offender database. Assuming clearance, a visitor’s pass will be issued. A visitor shall be denied access on subsequent visits without an approved photo ID.
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How does this sign-in/sign-out process work for students?
Schools can opt to record student late arrivals and early departures using the Raptor visitor management system.
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Are visitors/parents required to sign in during pick-up and drop-off?
No. Schools encourage drop off at the door, but for younger students (Pre-K, Kindergarten) some schools may allow parents to escort their child to their classroom. School staff will ensure that parents enter and exit properly. Parents who enter the school and stay in the front office while signing in or signing out a student are not required to show their government issued I.D.
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For school events held during the school day, do all attendees need to sign in?
No. Attendees at school events held during the school day do not need to sign in at the Raptor kiosk. School staff will ensure that attendees do not have access to the rest of school and stay at the event.
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Do classroom volunteers sign in?
Yes. Classroom volunteers are visitors and should sign-in at the Raptor kiosk.
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Do ASD staff also sign in?
Yes, all ASD staff who do not work in the school building each day (e.g., IT, maintenance, itinerant, subs) will sign in as visitors using the Raptor visitor management self-service kiosk.
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Are police officers, firemen and other uniformed or similar governmental officials scanned into the system?
Yes. This is to allow staff to know who is in a school at all times. However, law enforcement, fire, and CPS personnel on official business are allowed to enter the building to handle the situation for which they are called.
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What Board policies govern how visitors gain access to a school?
Board Policy 1260 states, “The Superintendent or designee shall establish procedures to facilitate visits during regular school days and register all visitors at the school office when entering school grounds.” Board Policy 3515.2 adds, “The School Board is committed to keeping the schools safe from intruders and requires all visitors to register upon coming on campus,” and 3515.5 details additional restrictions regarding sex offenders on campus.