Davis Schools Testing New Technology To Check Visitors

DAVIS (CBS13) — A group of Davis schools is using a new technology to track visitors on campus by tapping into a national database to make sure visitors are safe.

Willett Elementary is one of five schools in the Davis Joint Unified School District testing out a new registration system in which visitors have to submit a driver's license or other ID before they're allowed on campus.

"Safety being our No. 1 priority here in Davis, we really want to make sure that the folks who are coming on to our campus are safe," Assistant Superintendent Matt Best said.

Visitors' IDs are scanned against a sex-offender database, and administrators can also scan for known restraining orders. The check can take just seconds.

"If they do hit, it would notify the school's principal and our school safety resource officer," he said.

If the visitor is cleared, a badge with his or her name, photo and destination is printed. The visitor then has to scan the badge to check out. The system also helps coordinate communication and hours for volunteers, and if there was an emergency, administrators say it will help account for who is on campus.

The system cost about $10,000 for the pilot program in the first five schools. If the trial works, all Davis schools should have it by the 2016-17 school year.