To help bolster security at Maricopa Unified School District campuses, a new “Visitor Aware” digital check-in pilot program was rolled out this week.

The system allows visitors and volunteers to check in with staff, scan an identification card and be issued a sticker badge, then return the badge upon checking out.

“Visitor Aware plays a key role in ensuring that our school remain safe and welcoming environments,” said Tracey Pastor, MUSD assistant superintendent of administrative services.

First-time visitors and volunteers are typically entered into the system and the bar code from an ID card verifies the information. Once approved, individuals are issued badges with photos that grant them access to a school.

The new program allows staff to know exactly who is on a campus at any given time. The system will text an individual as a reminder if he or she has not checked in a certain amount of time.

The visitor’s name, date of birth, state and gender are used to ensure that the person is not on a sexual offender registry across all 50 states, as well as ensuring that people are not on a national or international watchlist, such as a FBI watchlists, Office of Foreign Assets Control blocked persons or another potential security threat. 

Pastor said the initial verification takes about five minutes and normal check-ins thereafter take about a minute.

Parents can register online at home, which expedites the initial registration and verification process. All personal information is stored and encrypted to protect the visitor information, Pastor said.

The reason for moving away from paper sign-in sheets and to an identification-card digital form of security system is to create a more customer-friendly experience while also enhancing security, Pastor said.

The system supports the district’s goal of safety, efficiency and community engagement, she said, plus it modernizes how the district’s staff welcomes visitors and volunteers onto school campuses.

Pastor said the system is designed to allow students thrive in safe and supportive spaces

“We want to make sure all volunteers and visitors are vetted and managed efficiently, wanting to foster a culture of safety and respect,” she said.

Visitor Aware streamlines the check-in process for visitors and volunteers, making it more efficient for visitors and volunteers to enter school campuses. Also, it lessens the administrative burden on staff “to focus more on supporting students,” she said.

More information about the system can be found here.