Richland School District Two checking visitors' status on sex offender registry

Source: WISTV
05-06-2008

COLUMBIA, SC (WIS) - A local school district is taking steps to help keep sex offenders out of your child's school.

The district got new technology to screen who's coming in and out.

Richland District Two is starting to conduct instant sex offender checks on visitors.

The new machine, known as Lobby Guard, has been installed in all of the district's elementary schools.

It's touch-screen interface makes it an easy-to-use computer system that scans a visitor's driver's license. That information is then checked against the national database of sex offenders.

If there is a problem, a message is emailed instantly to the staff working at the front desk.

Bethel-Hanberry principal Jeff Williams says, "If a person is flagged there, an administrator immediately steps in and speaks with that parent."

As long as the person is not banned from entering the school, the machine prints a photo identification badge for the visitor.

It does take a little more time for parents and volunteers coming to help, but many say it's more than worth it.

Janet Moak has a child in the first grade. She says, "It is a little more time consuming as far as signing students in and out, but the overall safety is worth every extra second you have to spend."

Lobby Guard will be installed in all Richland Two schools by the opening of the next school year, including middle and high schools.

The Lobby Guard is similar to a program used in Richland District One. Last October we told you about the V-soft technology. It too screens for sex offenders after a visitor's ID is scanned.

Lexington Districts One and Three have similar systems.

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