WPTV NBC 5, PALM CITY FL / KELLEY DUNN - 9/4/2009

PALM CITY, FL--The Martin County School District will be launching a new school security initiative in September.

It is a visitor and volunteer management system made by Raptor Technologies called V-Soft. This system enhances school security by screening visitors and volunteers against a compiled sex offender database from all 50 states. The use of the V-Soft system is a proactive measure by the District to provide an additional level of security for our schools.

Frequently Asked Questions about Raptor Technologies’ V-Soft System:

Why is the Martin County School District using this system?

The safety of our students is our highest priority. Raptor will provide a consistent system to track visitors and volunteers while keeping away individuals who may present a danger to students and staff members. The system quickly prints visitor badges that include a photo, visitor name, time, date, and visitor destination.

How does it work?

Visitor name and date of birth information is scanned from a valid driver’s license or most valid government issued picture ID cards. The information is then cross-referenced against sex offender data from all 50 states.

What happens if the system finds a match in the sexual offender database?

If there is a confirmed match, the V-Soft system will deliver email alerts to designated school administrators, district administrators, and School Resource Officers. The “match” information would be researched further and appropriate District procedures would be followed at the school site.

When a parent visits a school, what will he/she have to do?

During a person’s initial visit to a school, he or she will be asked to present a valid government issued ID card. The ID is scanned by a special camera into the V-Soft system and screened against the sexual offender database. Once cleared by V-Soft, a badge is printed with the visitor’s name, photo, date, time and destination at the school.

Will parents have to bring their ID during every visit to the school?

Not for the purposes of V-Soft. After a visitor or volunteer’s ID has been scanned at the school, the ID information is saved at the school site. The next time the person visits the school his or her name can be accessed in the system as a returning visitor or volunteer. Once the check-in process is initiated in V-Soft, the person’s stored ID is automatically rechecked against the sexual offender database prior to printing a new badge.

How long does this process take?

It takes about 30 seconds to scan the ID, complete the screening, and print the badge.

If a parent has children at more than one school, will he/she have to present an ID at each school site?

Yes, but only for the initial scan of the identification card at each site. Visitor history data is specific to each individual school.

The process does differ for a registered volunteer. Once a person is a registered volunteer in the District, and has had his or her identification card scanned into V-Soft, he or she can volunteer at multiple schools without having to rescan the identification card at each site.

How will information from a person’s ID be used?

The information is only used to screen campus visitors and volunteers against the sexual offender database. The database is updated at least once a week by Raptor Technologies. This is NOT a background search. No other criminal information is searched or provided, such as traffic tickets, warrants, felonies, etc.

Is this information scanned by V-Soft secure?

Yes. This system is secured by GeoTrust Quick SSL. Sites secured by Quick SSL are utilizing 128-bit SSL certificates, thereby offering the highest level of encryption or security possible. The information collected is used exclusively by the school, school district, or law enforcement. This information is NOT sold or shared with any outside sources.

Are any other school districts using V-Soft?

Yes, V-Soft is being used by school districts across the country. There are currently 15 Florida School Districts (including Martin County) using the V-Soft Visitor Management System. This system is also endorsed by the Florida Association of School Resource Officers.