BY: MURPHY GARCIA, Editor
The day of the Connecticut shooting had a huge impact on families, neighbors, friends and of course, schools. It was a tragedy exactly how many students and teachers were injured and killed in the process, but it also gave both local and non-local schools a chance to upgrade security and to ensure a safe and comfortable environment in the second home of their students.
After similar incidents including Littleton, CO; Jonesboro, AR and West Paducah, KY, there was also a call to implement stronger security measures in schools, according to Jason P. Nance of the University of Florida Levin College of Law.
Although it is not known to many students in the high school, there is a new security system that was just recently renovated called Raptorware. Even though the security has been enduringly safe in past, an extra cushion never hurts in the process of being given trusting hands of parents and guardians.
Most of the schools around the Kaneland area had the same idea of concerning safety and wanted to upgrade on security due to the tragedy that occurred in Connecticut. Some Oswego, Yorkville, Naperville schools in Illinois and even schools out of state like Ohio districts, are arranging improvements.
The process of the new Raptorware all takes place in the front office entrance. When visitors enter the building, they are required to hand in their license or state ID so the office can scan to see any necessary records of the person coming into the school.
“When they hand over their state issued ID or driver’s license, the system runs through their name to see any criminal records or if they’re registered sex offenders,” Kaneland High School police officer Keith Gardner said.
If the visitors are clear (safe) to enter the building, they will receive a special sticker pass to wear, so teachers and other faculty members can recognize the person as an approved visitor.
“The change will be, instead of wearing an orange visitor’s pass, there will be a pass with a picture of the person on it instead,” Gardner said.
With seldom students who are aware of the Raptorware system, by word of mouth, the impact will be that much greater to those who find out. Upgrading on security can become so surreal, and the changes can make preparing for an unexpected occurrence more reassuring.
“It will probably make the teachers even more comfortable,” sophomore Jessica Kucera said.
Right now, the school is seeing how things go with the security in the high school, and will eventually move throughout the district.
“We are always checking into the new security and what we can do to improve,” Gardner said.
As the process of maintaining tight security, in schools grows, it will become more advanced. Although wherever one goes the journey will involve walking on eggshells, trust is a factor to keep safe.
