Beginning on April 7, MTHS students have transitioned from paper sign outs to using digital hall passes through the SmartPass app. This initiative aims to streamline the use of hall passes for students and enhance schoolwide security. With careful planning and announcements, the technology was introduced to students in their homeroom classes following teacher training and introductions to the app.

After installing the SmartPass app and signing in with their school email, students can independently start a pass timer for any occasion in which they need to leave their room with teacher permission. Simple requests such as bathroom or water breaks can be sent without digital confirmation from a teacher. For more unique needs, such as counselor visits, the classroom teacher must approve the pass request on their computer.

Principal Mr. David Rilatt explained that the security advantages of a digital hall pass system was the driving force behind administration’s decision to introduce the platform.

“A lot of things at our school center on safety and security so I would say a motivator is making sure we have accountability on where our students are throughout the day,” said Rilatt. “For example, if there were to be an emergency, we wouldn’t have to rely solely on teacher records and accounts for students that may be signed out of a study hall all the way over in the library or with another teacher, we would be able to pull that remotely to make sure we have an accurate account of our students.”

Previously, students were expected to log their destination and exit and return times on a paper in their classroom if they were leaving. The introduction of a digital system performs the same function, but is advantageous in regards to building safety. Now, any teacher or administrator can access data on the SmartPass app to quickly locate students or view information about the breaks a student has taken. This replaces the barrier of physical record- keeping with accurate information that can be accessed in a moment’s notice in the case of an emergency or a concern about a student’s habits or whereabouts.

While the SmartPass was introduced to the school in early April, teachers and students within the IB Program had been experimenting with Securely Pass, a different digital hall pass company, since the beginning of the school year. Administrators hoped to get feedback from a smaller test group before opening up the idea to the entire school.

IB History teacher Mrs. Jo-Elle Daveler shared her experience with Securely Pass, explaining how having to confirm each student’s request on her own device could be a hassle and a disruption to class time. The new app, however, alleviates this complaint.

“This app is a lot easier than the first trial because we were expected to approve and end the pass for students, but with this app the student can set up their own pass so it isn’t an additional step for teachers,” said Daveler.

Even in its early days of use, Daveler finds the system to be efficient and user-friendly for both teachers and students.

“The nice thing is that kids are tech savvy and I haven’t had anyone say they don’t know how to use the app. Everyone has caught on, it hasn’t been a hindrance,” she said.

As the school building adjusts to this new method of tracking and recording students’ locations, Rilatt wants to keep in mind that this is a period for open-minded experimentation.

“This is a pilot, so we’re looking to learn from the things that are great about it and also the things that we need to think a little bit more about before we roll it out for the next school year. So it’s going to be a little bit of a learning curve for all of us but we definitely are excited about going digital,” he said.

Just as administration responded to feedback from the IB teachers with a switch in digital pass apps, these final months of the school year will function as an extended trial period to evaluate the cohesion and effectiveness of a school-wide digital pass system. Overall, the priority of this mission is maximizing the student safety and the quality and focus of classroom instruction.