SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – The Sioux Falls School District is stepping up efforts to improve school safety with new visitor screening technology.
According to a news release, the district has partnered with Wisconsin-based Singlewire Software to implement the company‘s Visitor Aware software inside the district’s 38 school buildings. The system enables the district to establish a standard check-in procedure for all guests and identify potential issues before they can fully gain access to a school.
“Over the years, we’ve found that being able to monitor people coming in and out of our school buildings allows us to provide the safest possible environment for our students and staff,” said Dave Osterquist, security coordinator for Sioux Falls School District. “Visitor Aware gives our district the ability to understand who we are letting into our schools and intervene when potential threats appear.”
Visitor Aware uses ID scanning and encrypted facial recognition to screen visitors and volunteers against sex offender databases, government watchlists, and active legal injunctions. Issues are flagged for staff to identify potential threats and approved guests are given a printed badge to show they are allowed to be in the building.
“As new threats emerge, it’s becoming more and more apparent that school safety needs to start at the front door,” said Terry Swanson, president and CEO of Singlewire Software. “Visitor Aware gives districts like Sioux Falls a reliable and easy method for screening guests, validating their identities, and having confidence that they are only allowing people into school buildings who have permission to be there.”
According to the release, more than 150 schools and districts nationwide use Visitor Aware to screen guests.
Copyright 2024 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.