South Range adds layer of security with Raptor system

By ROBERT CONNELLY

rconnelly@vindy.com

NORTH LIMA

South Range schools have added another security measure for its buildings this school year, and things have gone smoothly over the first two days of classes.

The school district added the Raptor system to its entrances of the three schools along state Route 46. It’s a system that will scan a form of identification and run it through a system to see if anything comes up, such as the sex-offender registry. If nothing comes up, a sticker is printed with that person’s name, destination of visit and a picture of the person from their ID.

“It’s kind of nice looking for that sticker on people and as you see faces in the cafeteria or hallway that you don’t recognize, you see that picture on them. You know they came up OK after the system did a background check,” said Steve Matos, South Range Elementary principal.

“Most of the feedback we’ve had is receptive to it. No one has complained yet,” said Joanne Kane, secretary at South Range High School.

“I think it helps us be more proactive in keeping the kids safe.”

South Range schools began classes Monday. Superintendent Dennis Dunham said the district began looking at the system about this time last year.

“It seemed to be fairly conducive to what we do now,” he said. “However, we’re doing it on the computer and that has the ability to track offenders, sexual offenders, predators. We have the ability to make notations [so it] just kind of cleans up our whole visitor management system.”

The Austintown and Boardman school districts also use the same security system at their buildings.

South Range Treasurer Jim Phillips said the district spent $4,800 on the system this year, and that price falls to $1,440 in annual system maintenance and upkeep. Dunham said the price was not exorbitant and highlighted the use of the alert system.

If someone’s identification does come back with something, a text or email alert is sent to building administrators, the Beaver Township student resource officer, and Dunham about who the person is and why that person was flagged in the system.

The Raptor system is used when visitors or volunteers are trying to enter the school complex while students are in class.

“I would say so far, so good,” Matos said.