News and Information

School District 2 takes new steps for security
Green River Star, Green River, WY, By STEPHANIE THOMPSON Staff Writer

October 11, 2007 - How can the community keep sexual predators out of Green River schools?

The Sweetwater County School District No. 2 Board of Trustees is taking steps to ensure these predators are identified quickly.

During the board's meeting last night, members voted unanimously to purchase a software program called Raptor Trace.

Superintendent Craig Sorensen said this software will allow the district to identify registered sex offenders.

Here's how it works. When a visitor enters a District No. 2 school whether in Green River, Granger of McKinnon that visitor must check in at the office.

Once at the office, the visitor must produce his or her driver's license, which is scanned. Right after the license is scanned the district will know if the visitor is a registered sex offender, Sorensen said.

This will cost $1,823 per school for the first year and $432 per school each year after that, Sorensen said.

“I think it would be worth it,” Trustee Joe Henderson said.

However, the district will not stop there. Visitors who checked into the office will receive a certain pass. This pass states what time they checked in. Those who haven't checked in will need to go to the office and get a pass.

Trustee Ann Rudoff said she was in favor of this security. However, she said there will come a time when a volunteer, parent or even student will come up as a registered sex offender. The district will have to decide what to do about this.

Rudoff said she had read articles on this and other states are already having this problem.

Sorensen said the district will need to draw up a list of procedures and policies to follow.

Other Business

* In-school suspension at the Green River High School was eliminated. Students will now serve detention before or after school.

These students also have the choice as to serve the time or help out with cleaning, such as washing windows or picking up trash. If they complete service work their time is cut in half. For example, two hours of detention would equal one hour if they cleaned.