Azaa Battsogt

Metea is exchanging their paper passes for digital passes.

Metea Valley’s hall passes will be digital, replacing the traditional paper passes. These new passes will allow teachers to monitor students when they leave the classroom, whether it’s for the bathroom or the nurse. The process of switching from paper to digital is starting this spring and will continue over the summer, with the change being finalized when school starts in the fall.

“If we do have students who take a pass, we’re not monitoring how long they’re gone. The digital pass will mark that, so teachers will know how long they’re gone with their pass. We can limit the number of times that students use it, and the data will come back,” Principal Daniel Debruycker said. 

Students will use the existing portal, which they currently use to sign up for Mustang 30, to also sign out for bathroom breaks or visits to the nurse. In addition to changing to digital passes, Metea will no longer use Edficiency.

“Next year, we’re using Securely, and Securely is going to be how we sign up for Mustang 30. They also have a digital hall pass process,” Debruycker said. “Waubonsie Valley is piloting it this year with some success.”

There will be a brief transition period for students, with the new digital passes expected to be in place by the start of next year. As of now, teachers have not received formal training to manage these passes. However, Rodney Jones, one of Metea’s assistant principals, will be one of the first staff members to undergo training on what the process will look like for staff and students.

“So on the Chromebook or their cell phone, they’ll be requesting it,” Debruycker said. It’ll take a little bit of explaining from our staff, so the transition is gonna look like us getting trained in all the details, putting some documentation together, and communicating that to the community and the students before they even get here.”