It is time to say goodbye to the classic pen-and-paper signout method. Electronic bathroom passes, known as SmartPass, are being implemented in many classrooms to monitor students entering and exiting classes. Instead of writing their name on a sign-out sheet, students type their student ID number into a Chromebook select which building they are in, and whether they are a male or female, it tells them if they can leave the classroom based on bathroom occupancy. If they can leave, a five-minute timer starts, and it stops when the student clicks “end pass.” If a student is unable to leave, they are placed on a waiting list. However, if a student exceeds the time limit by a minute or two, it is not an issue. This allows teachers and administrators to properly monitor students by knowing their whereabouts and works to prevent any problems. Since this new system is just now being introduced, the passes are only being tested in some buildings, including the 2100 pod, 400, and 700 buildings.
Principal Kevin Spainhour feels that these new passes will be beneficial to maintain order around the school and to keep students safe.
“I do think this is something that is going to become more of a district norm, especially in our high schools where our students have more freedom of movement, and so this is just another layer of accountability. It is a way for us to hold students accountable and for them to feel they can go to a bathroom knowing that it’s going to have a limited number of people in that bathroom,” Spainhour said.
Teachers are also finding this new method more efficient for staying organized in the classroom and keep track of students more effectively.
“I think it’s a good way to keep up with things. I was really bad at making copies of the sign-out sheet that we had, so this is obviously much easier. It’s just a good way to keep up with stuff and know where kids are supposed to be and at what times,” math teacher Callie Warren said.
Though most staff and admin are in favor of the SmartPasses, a majority of students are opposed.
“I don’t think it [bathroom passes] will be beneficial because it isn’t schoolwide, and in some of the buildings it’s been implemented in, the teachers aren’t in support of it and don’t really care to fully enforce it,” junior Talia Snyder said.
Others are specifically not fond of the time limit the passes require.
“It seems to me that, on the one hand, it is necessary to have better control of who goes to the bathroom and that they do not exceed the time there, but it seems a little excessive to me that there is a time limit,” senior Mariana Callejas said.
If successful, the SmartPasses will be fully implemented in August of next school year, along with other schools in the district.