News and Information

School scans adults' IDs before letting them in
Nelson Garcia, News 9, Denver, CO

5/22/2007 – THORNTON – Before you walk in Rocky Top Middle School, you must get past Nancy Ramsay. She does not look tough, but she has a high-tech tool to keep unwanted guests out.

"It's one more thing we can do to assure safety," Ramsay said.

Rocky Top Middle School is the first school in the state to employ an ID scanning system. No matter what your reason is for visiting the school, Ramsay must take your photo ID or driver's license and run it through her computer system.

"It's a very affordable system for the level of security it brings you," said Principal Jami Miller.

The system checks your name and information against the National Sex Offender Registry.

"It will immediately dispatch a page to myself and the police officer in the building and we will respond up front," said Miller.

"If they have no idea we're coming, they're not going to run into the building," said Thornton Police Officer Rory Coonts, who is Rocky Top's school resource officer. "We can also put restraining orders in there. If there's any custody battles between parents, we can put that in there."

The system, known as The Raptor put out by a company VSoft, will also print out a badge with the adult's picture on it. If the picture does not match the person, students and teachers know something is wrong.

"If someone is in the school, then we are alerted right away," said Ramsay.

Last year, a gunman entered Platte Canyon High School near Bailey. He took several students hostage and ended up killing 16-year-old Emily Keyes before killing himself. Miller had made plans for The Raptor system before that tragedy, but he said it confirmed his belief that his school needed the added measure.

Miller says parents loved it so much that when he told them about it at a meeting, he received a standing ovation.

"It's a very controlled environment and they know just where everybody is," said Michelle Smith, a parent who says she does not mind presenting her ID every time. "No, cause it's for my children's safety. So, I would do it every time. So, actually I think I would question them had they not IDed me."

"I think our school is pretty safe and we've never had any problems with it or anything," said Lyndsey Roberts, an 8th grader. "I think every school should do that."

Miller agrees. He says the cost for the equipment only ran about $1,500 and it will cost the school another $300 a year to maintain the service. He says the Adams 12 Five Star School District is planning to bring The Raptor system to more schools across the district. Miller says he has been contacted by other schools around the state which plan to unveil a similar system next fall.

"There's really no price for the kids' security. The kids feel safe at school. They learn better and we would've paid, knowing what I know of the system now, we would've paid more for it," said Miller. "I do think within five years that you will see if not this system, a type of system like this in most schools."

Ramsay said, "I feel very comfortable and confident with the system."