News and Information

Raptor screens school for sex offenders
MSNBC, December 6, 2005

LEE COUNTY — There are never enough layers when it comes to protecting your children. That's why Bonita Springs Charter School has taken the Jessica Lunsford Act one step further. In addition to vendor background checks they have a secret weapon used on every visitor.

"I had been to a conference and seen the machine," said Pam Franco, principal of Bonita Springs Charter School.

"We have very little trouble with it," said Terilyn Smith of Bonita Springs Charter School.

The Raptor is keeping trouble out of the school.

"This is our Raptor machine that we use for tracking any type of sexual predators that maybe tried to enter the school," said Smith.

The process is simple. The Raptor first scans your driver's license, then checks all national sex offender databases. Once you're cleared, you're given a pass that must be returned when you leave the school.

Anyone who walks through the school's front doors must present a picture ID. If you don't have one, you're out of luck - even if you've been there before.

The Raptor costs just over $1500, but parents say you can't put a price tag on what it's protecting.

"I think it's a good idea. I think she's safe here," said parent Jody Berry.

The new technology is catching on fast in school districts across Southwest Florida. All Collier County schools have equipment that does the same thing.

But for all those schools still trying to decide whether to make the investment, Franco recommends it.

"Make your jobs easier and keep your children safe," said Franco.

The Raptor machine checks for sex offenders, but no other criminal activity.

All charter schools run by Charter School USA will soon have the equipment.

Lee and Charlotte school districts are interested in purchasing the raptor for all of its schools. Both districts will discuss adding the purchase to the next budget in March