Raptor Visitor Management System
Sierra Sands Unified School District is pleased to announce that we will be piloting the Raptor Visitor Management System at Las Flores and Pierce Elementary to support and strengthen our program of campus safety for students and faculty. Part of keeping students and faculty safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times, and the Raptor system will allow us to do that. The Raptor system will better allow us to screen visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and staff.
Starting February, 2020, all visitors that would like to access the campus will be asked to present an ID, such as a Driver’s License or other US government-issued ID, which can be scanned into the Raptor system. If a parent or guardian does not have a US government-issued ID, the school staff member can use any form of identification and manually enter the person’s name into the Raptor system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sexual offenders are not entering our school campuses without our knowledge. The Raptor system checks the visitor's name and date of birth for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. No other data from the ID is gathered or recorded, and the information is not shared with any outside agency.
Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of your visit. Please wear this badge at all times while on campus and remember to return to the office and sign out before you leave campus. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork. In other words, if you are not requesting access beyond the front office, you will not be required to present an ID.
The safety of our students is our highest priority, and the Raptor Visitor Management System allows us to quickly identify those that may present a danger to our students. Thank you in advance for your understanding and your support in enhancing the school safety protocols in our district.
Raptor Visitor Management System - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Raptor System?
Raptor is a visitor management system that enhances school security by reading a visitor's drivers’ license (or other approved government-issued ID), comparing information to a sex offender database to alert school administrators and local police if a match is found. Once cleared through the system, a visitor badge is produced that includes a photo, name of the visitor, date & time.
How does Raptor work?
Raptor compares government-issued ID information to a database that contains registered sex offenders from 50 states. In the event of a match, Raptor alerts designated school officials and law enforcement.
What is the purpose of the Raptor system?
Raptor helps our schools keep unwanted visitors out and track visitors that have been allowed in. By proactively alerting personnel to certain potential threats, Raptor allows school administrators and law enforcement personnel to take appropriate steps to keep the students, employees, and visitors safe. For valid visitors, the system also prints visitor badges that include the visitor’s name, photo, date, and destination. Those badges enable personnel within the campus to quickly determine if visitors are in areas where they should, or should not be.
Why is Sierra Sands Unified 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 people who present a danger to students. The system quickly prints visitor badges that include a photo, the name of the visitor, time and date.
Does the School/District have the right to require visitors, even parents, to produce identification before entering the school?
Yes. School officials need to know who is in the building and why they are there; particularly when a student is involved (e.g. early pickup), school officials need to be able to confirm that an individual has the authority to have access to the student. Every person entering the campus will be scanned.
What types of IDs will work in Raptor?
The scanner is able to scan all US government-issued IDs, Drivers Licenses, green cards, active military cards, and passport cards (not the full passport). It does not officially scan other countries’ IDs.
What other information is the school taking from these IDs?
Raptor is only scanning the visitor’s name, date of birth and photo for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders and any private alerts at the school. Additional visitor data is not scanned and will not be gathered or shared with any outside company of organization.
What does a visitor do if he/she doesn’t have a government issued ID?
Visitors without a government-issued ID will only be allowed entrance to the school if positive identification can be established using last name, first name, and date of birth. Be advised that this process may require additional time and assistance from law enforcement to establish positive identification.
Is an ID card scan necessary each time a person comes in the building?
No, additional scans are not necessary, however, you will be required to present your ID to the Raptor operator every time you wish to access the campus so that he/she can find your name in the system (first and last name look-up) and use the record of the previously-scanned ID to sign you in and print a visitor’s badge. This makes check in much easier after the initial visit.
What is the checkout process for Visitors leaving the building?
The checkout process doesn’t involve scanning the card again. The operator would simply find the name of the person who is signing out and click a 'sign out' button. This provides a record of entry and departure and time on any campus. The Raptor badge should be returned to the operator and destroyed.
What if a 'hit' on the system occurs? What is the protocol?
The system will automatically notify school and district administration, as well as law enforcement, for response. No identified visitor with a positive 'hit' will be permitted onto the campus without an escort.
Will the Raptor System be used for after school activities?
No, the system will only be used during normal school hours.