Smith notes that the district’s previous solution could not screen guests against state and national databases. “This left gaps in our safety protocols and raised concerns among staff and parents,” he says. “Additionally, manual sign-in processes were time-consuming and prone to errors, making it difficult to respond swiftly or retrieve accurate records when needed.”
Why Should Schools Use a Visitor Management System?
Visitor management systems have unique safety features that can help schools prevent incidents.
For example, some systems can track the path of a guest through the campus. Smith says Verkada Guest has made it easier to host events with more than 100 guests. The school can post QR codes that allow guests to sign in on their phones.
“Now, when we host these large events, we can ensure all guests are authorized to be in our building,” he says. “The added layer of accountability and security has also helped build trust with parents and the community.”
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Smith also notes that “real-time insights into who is currently in our buildings” translate to improved security and operational efficiency. “It ensures that only authorized visitors gain access. Automated notifications to our staff that a guest has arrived and preregistration features have streamlined the check-in process, reducing wait times and enhancing the overall guest experience.”
Fishtrom uses Active Directory and Azure services to import staff members into the Verkada Guest system. “When a visitor checks in on campus, the system asks who they are there to visit. This alerts the visitor’s staff member,” he explains. “We’ve also expanded this to our counseling offices; when students check in with their counselors, they do so with Verkada Guest.”
What Should Schools Look for in a Visitor Management System?
There are a few things to evaluate when selecting a visitor management system for your schools. As with any new technology, seamless integration is a must. In this case, ensure your current security cameras are compatible with the system you are adding.
“Nordonia did not have to put any additional technology in place to be successful with our Verkada Guest implementation,” Smith says. “We were already in the company’s ecosystem, having installed Verkada cameras before adding visitor management. These integrations enable us to verify visitor identities more effectively and provide a seamless experience from check-in to exit.”
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Smith adds that schools should set common expectations across buildings. “Early in our implementation, different schools adopted varying practices, which created confusion for parents and diminished the effectiveness of the system,” he says. ‘Standardizing procedures across all buildings from the start would have streamlined operations and improved the experience for both our guests and our staff members.”
Smith says other districts should also consider a system with:
- Customization to meet schools’ specific needs
- User-friendliness for ease of use and adoption
- Strong vendor reputation and support
Then, monitor community, staff and student reactions to determine whether it’s working. Fishtrom says the system has positively changed school culture: “Many of our volunteers, who have students in our feeder schools, have inquired about the system. They want to see it at the feeder school. That is a great testimonial to the product, its effectiveness and its success.”
