Technology Integration 1

Running head: TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION OF THE LOBBY GUARD

Technology Integration of The Lobby Guard

Sharon R. Synan

University of West Georgia

Abstract

The Lobby Guard provides real time technology to check in visitors upon entering a school building. West Jackson Middle School integrated The Lobby Guard in 2004 to alleviate the work load during peak check out times and visitor times. The Lobby Guard uses a connection to the State of Georgia’s sex offender database as well as information regarding outstanding arrest warrants in an effort to enhance safety. The Lobby Guard includes easy step-by-step directions for visitors to follow and prints photo identification for the guest to wear upon their outer garment. A report of activity is easily generated and can be submitted to the central office.

Setting and Need

West Jackson Middle School is located in Jefferson, Georgia. Visitors enter WJMS through the front entrance at the main office. A large atrium serves as the axel of the building. Five hallways extend from the atrium providing classroom space for three grades, connections, and media services. There are approximately 780 students served by 40 faculty and staff. The front office desk seats one school receptionist. WJMS has a full time resource officer who has an office within a few feet of the main office. All visitors to the building see multiple signs informing them of the school policy, which requires guests to check in with the receptionist and sign a visitor log. Jackson County School System has a countywide policy that all visitors must sign a visitor log and submit a driver’s license as proof of identification upon entering any of the public school buildings within the system. The school receptionist is asked to submit a log each month of all visitors. Prior to the new procedure discussed below, the workload of the WJMS receptionist at peak times was becoming unmanageable.

Implementation

The school has attempted to increase safety for students and to ease the check in load of the receptionist by implementing the use of a technology innovation called The Lobby Guard. The Lobby Guard is connected to the Ethernet and is located in the main office. The Lobby Guard records all activity to print and send to the county office. Visitors are able to print a visitor pass.

This process to identify an improved method for security for all buildings in the school system began with a challenge to each principal and resource officer to find a cost- efficient, effective solution for schools to check visitors into the building with minimal assistance from office personnel. Additionally, the schools desired to make the check- in procedure a line of first defense in the protection of the students by utilizing the state of Georgia sex offender’s database and local outstanding warrant information. The Lobby Guard was placed in one building for a trial period and later purchased across the county. The Lobby Guard has been used with great success.

Parallel Analysis

I can parallel the integration of The Lobby Guard into West Jackson Middle School best with Ely’s Conditions of Change (Ellsworth, 2000). The first condition to be considered is dissatisfaction with the status quo. Dissatisfaction was obvious and of great concern to school receptionists, principals, parents, and central office administrators. The school receptionist was often found juggling multiple phone calls, waiting parents, and the needs of students all at one time and without much success. Soon administration in the building began pulling paraprofessionals during critical times to help facilitate the office rush. When paraprofessionals began to get pulled from their assigned positions everyone was in agreement that this office conflict was getting in the way of what was truly best for kids. Not only would change be welcome, but change was being demanded.

The second condition is knowledge (Ellsworth, 2000). The individuals making the change must have sufficient knowledge of the technology to be integrated as well as skill in the use of the technology. In the case of The Lobby Guard, the kiosk is self-explanatory. Just to be sure there were no confusions the vendor installing The Lobby Guard trained the principal, the school receptionist, the school nurse, and the school bookkeeper in using the Lobby Guard and loading the paper and ink into the machine.

The third condition requires resources (Ellsworth, 2000). West Jackson Middle School had previously installed Ethernet outlets and an enlarged countertop space making the resources, as far as space and building needs, already in place. The cost of the Lobby Guard was budgeted a year ahead of time as part of the safety budget and added no cost out of the general school fund for the individual schools. The cost of the supplies to keep The Lobby Guard stocked was simply switched from the stick- on visitor labels used previously to the printable labels The Lobby Guard requires.

The fourth condition is time (Ellsworth, 2000). A trial period began at one of the elementary schools first. The principals met and discussed the positives and negatives of use with the Lobby Guard. Because the schools have similar policies, problems were spotted early during the trial, and changes were made long before introducing the equipment to each school. Parents and visitors required the longest length of time to adjust to the new procedures and use of The Lobby Guard.

The fifth condition states that rewards and incentives should be included (Ellsworth, 2000). The reward for implementing The Lobby Guard was a relief in work stress by alleviating the need for the school receptionist to check in each visitor individually and accurately. Another reward was the return of the paraprofessionals to their assigned classrooms and students on their caseload. Parents were rewarded by being more assured of the safety of their children in our school building each day.

The sixth condition is participation (Ellsworth, 2000). Participation was expected from all of the schools that implemented The Lobby Guard. One school chose not to purchase a Lobby Guard machine and still chooses to use alternative methods for checking in their visitors. Of the schools choosing The Lobby Guard all of those schools still use it and have stated that they would not go back to the traditional method of asking for a driver’s license and having visitors sign out using paper and pencil.

The seventh condition is commitment (Ellsworth, 2000). The Lobby Guard is a formidable piece of equipment. With its ease of use and quick reference check to the database, it is easy to stay committed to its use. WJMS had principal and receptionist buy-in from the start.

The final condition to Ely’s change model is leadership (Ellsworth, 2000). Normally in a school environment the leadership that comes to mind would be the principal or other administrators. However, regarding the Lobby Guard, the school resource officer was the individual who served as the primary leader in the decision to make this crucial change. The resource officer is the primary authority in security and school safety. His feedback and encouragement to the office staff and parents made a significant difference in the acceptance of The Lobby Guard as a useful and valuable tool.

Conclusion

The Lobby Guard is an impressive piece of technology that greets visitors upon entrance to West Jackson Middle School. The technology allows the school to accurately check backgrounds and verify identities of visitors entering the middle school building. The ultimate goal is to increase the safety and well -being of students, faculty, and staff. The Lobby Guard provides a first line of defense in accomplishing this important objective and goal.

References

Ellsworth, J. B. (2000). Surviving Change: A Survey of Educational Change Models. New York: ERIC.