Several rumors spread throughout the halls of Rocky, conversations between students and teachers, all asking the same question; “What is the new digital bathroom pass?” Bathrooms are the topical subject among Rocky students, but for a good reason. Students and teachers alike at Rocky want to be aware of how the year is going to look regarding the policy for going to the bathroom. Fortunately, information on the new hallway passes have been released.
Teachers at Rocky find that there has been a pattern at Rock Island High School of students skipping classes, stretching their bathroom pass times, and not valuing the importance of staying in class. The administrators of Rocky have come up with a solution that values convenience and efficiency. That solution is “Smartpass”.
John Campbell, the assistant principal of Rock Island High School shares the inspiration of Smartpass, which has sparked from “the sheer amount of students roaming the halls without passes. Ultimately, missing a major portion of their class periods,” he says. Similarly, David Hobin, a dean at Rocky, said that it is a “better system than planners.”
Smartpass is a system for students in class to open their chromebooks to access a program that allows them to request the teacher for a hallway pass. If there are no restrictions, the teacher can approve passes for students.
“Teachers and administrators would be able to use their computer to see everyone who is on a pass and where they are supposed to be,” Hobin shares. They will also be able to access the amount of time the student has been out of class. If a student is out for too long, they will be escorted back to class.
“This system allows us to track exactly what students are in the hallway and where they should be. Furthermore, we can put limits on the number of students allowed in certain places of the building,” said Hobin.
The Smartpass program is a new technological approach at Rock Island High School. It is planned to serve its purpose and ensure safety and make sure students get back to class on time.
“The success of this process will depend on how well we stick to the process and procedures of the program,” Campbell informs. Administration at Rocky plans to ensure that teachers and students alike know how to use Smartpass to guarantee success.
“I think this will be an excellent addition as we will be able to put limits on passes, monitor student movement, and have a record of where students are located,” Hobin shares.
Students at Rocky can benefit from this new program by safely and efficiently receiving a hallway pass, with minimal disruption during class. Student’s only responsibility is to correctly receive a pass, tend to their needs, and return to class in a timely manner.
This new technological advancement is going to make Rocky a better and safer environment for students and teachers alike.
