By: Kristyn Hunt Cathey, APR – Director of Communications
GCCISD voters approved two items during the 2019 bond that will ensure the safety and security of our students: district-wide student identification and a school bus GPS system. The district, with support from the Safe & Secure Schools and Technology departments, will debut the revised student ID program beginning fall 2023. The roll out will begin with middle and high school students for the first day of school and pre-K through fifth grade students later in the school year. Currently, only the district’s high school students wear badges.
Dr. Anthony Price, Assistant Superintendent of Operation Services, oversees the district’s safety initiatives, along with Safe & Secure Schools Director Robert Marquez. “The student IDs will add an extra layer to our current school safety procedures,” Price said. “Knowing where the students are and who they are in the event of a crisis is of utmost importance.”
The push for district-wide student identification for all students mirrors the district’s policy for its staff. By doing so, school personnel will be able to ensure a safe environment by recognizing and taking immediate action on anyone who is not identified as being associated with the school. The identification badge has multiple uses, including transportation, cafeteria, library, and other security identification purposes.
The following guidelines will be implemented on the first day of school, to ensure the success of the District ID Badge Program.
First through 12th grade students will receive one photo ID Badge and lanyard at no cost. Pre-K and kindergarten students will receive two badges: one for classroom use and the other placed on their backpack.
The ID Badges and the unique student number will be used to account for transportation, checking out library books, and purchasing food items from the cafeteria. The badges will provide a means for easy identification of students in common areas of the school and for other uses as determined by campus administration.
“Ensuring our students and staff are accounted for every day they are in our care and utilizing GPS technology is so important,” Carrie Smith, Director of Student Services said. “Our district is the beacon of innovation and I know that this new ID badge program will serve as an example for others to follow.