By Brandon McIver

Nighthawks may have noticed the addition of a newly implemented hall pass system. This system, characterized by an unmistakable “beep sound,” has replaced the usual methods of a sign-out sheet, raising your hand in class, or not asking at all. To use this system, students need to either type in their 300 number or scan their student ID. Once the ID is scanned, a beep will sound, and then the student selects their location. Once the location is selected, the hall pass has been created, and the student may leave class. This allows teachers and admin to keep a log of who signs out, as well as when and where they are going.

The new system has had both positive and negative results, but the feedback is mostly positive. Teachers generally approve of the new system, and usually only see occasional issues with technology. Mrs. Dylla, a teacher on campus, is all for the new system. “I’m for it…it keeps everybody on point and responsible and accountable…I really have enjoyed it.” Brandon Raisola, a student at IRHS, has also spoken on the positives of the new system. “It’s pretty dope… it saves a lot of time that I could just go to the bathroom.” Later, when asked if there were any issues with the system, Raisola noted that the only issue he had with the system was related to technology. “Yeah, I’ve had to reset like three computers for the teacher…but other than that, it’s been pretty good.” Booting up the computers was not the only problem for Raisola, as he had also run into confusion with how to work the hallpasses at the main office, “When you check into the school, coming in late, there are a lot of options, and it’s kind of like a self-checkout, but I get confused pretty easily.” Teachers also run into issues with technology. When Mrs. Dylla was asked about problems she had with the system, she also only mentioned technology. Her only issue was the occasional sudden shutdown of kiosks. “The kiosk doesn’t, it shuts it down, so I’m constantly having to reboot it up…but they’ve been correcting that, so we’re not seeing as much.” She could only find a single problem with the system, which is in the process of being fixed. The system seems to only be improving, which has garnered positive feedback from Nighthawk teachers.

In the past, there were issues with the misuse of bathroom passes. Mrs. Dylla has said that “They’ve [students] gone out on a walkabout, and shown up 30 minutes later.” She has also experienced some misuse this year as well, however, not as often. Mrs. Dylla claims that they “pretend to log out”. She also points out the misuse she has experienced this year. “And what they don’t realize is that we can pull the hall pass up, and watch them log in, and their face pops up.” When asked how she handles these situations, she points out that she always catches them and that, “It’s an automatic referral, it’s ISS.” If the system is used properly, these issues can be avoided.

However, according to reports, not all students are using this system, regardless of the directions given by staff. Brandon Raisola, a student at IRHS, has said that he himself has not faked a scan, but he has witnessed other students doing a ‘fake scan’. When asked if he had seen someone do a fake scan, he replied, “Yeah, I’ve seen like they just grab the bathroom pass and walk out.” When students request to use the bathroom, teachers will instruct them to scan out, but at times they will “fake” a scan, or leave without scanning at all. This demonstrates some discontent with the new system.

J.R., a student who has requested to remain anonymous, expressed his displeasure with the system. “I think it’s very tedious. I just want to be able to use the bathroom, like what if it’s an emergency, I don’t have time to stand around scanning. Not gonna lie, I’ve left without scanning more than once.” Although some students find the new hall pass system annoying, others feel that it helps classes flow much more smoothly. Raisola, for example, thinks that “it’s way better than raising my hand…it saves class time.” Even teachers enjoy how the system integrates with the flow of the classroom, feeling that their students have been “doing really well with it [hallpass system].” Many students and staff can agree that the newly implemented hall pass system has vastly improved the process of creating and using passes, with minor flaws that are easily resolved.

Overall, Nighthawks have grown to like the new system. There are both positive and negative thoughts on the system; however, the positives outweigh the easily resolvable negatives. Many more people have had a positive response to the system, rather than those who have had a negative one. It is safe to say that this system is here to stay in the upcoming years, and Nighthawks will keep up the heap of beeps.