By contributing writers Ryan Bennett (’28) and Bobbi Sakellariou (’27)

If you are roaming the halls and don’t have a pass, you will be held accountable. With the amount of people roaming the hallways and skipping class, the school implemented a new hall pass system called the Smart Pass.

Opinions surrounding the system is mixed within the student body. Most students don’t like the new Smart Pass system, while some people don’t mind it at all, like freshman Jude Harris. “It’s forgettable,” he said. But, many students find it to be very annoying and somewhat controlling, especially with the process of signing out then back in. The teachers are able to see where you’re supposed to be and how long you’ve been out. Most people prefer the old paper sign out system. “The paper is nicer to use,” said freshman Atticus Gould, who also pointed out the problem of having to use chromebooks, with the need of having the chromebook to be near an outlet. Some students such as freshman Richard Chen believe that students are bound to take longer than five minutes.

One thing that everyone could agree on is that the Smart Pass system could be improved in some way. Students suggest they should have a little bit longer for each break. “I think we should have seven or eight minutes,” said freshman Witt Podkaminer. Some suggestions were that there shouldn’t be a max time for passes, or that you could choose the amount of time you’re gonna be out for. “If you have to go number two, it might take a little longer than five minutes sometimes,” said sophomore John Henneberry. And of course some people just want to go back to using the paper.

This system was originally recommended by Principal Gregory Lawson. Smart Pass allows the school to collect the data from people not in class. The administration can see what they are doing, where they are, and how long they have been out. This is to find and address any problems, and to figure out in which areas the school needs to keep their attention on. If there is a pattern with people in the hall for a long period of time, the administration will have a conversation with the student, and if they keep abusing the system, there will be disciplinary actions taken. The goal of this system is to keep students in class, but with them also having the necessary amount of breaks for when they need them.

Opinions started to change after we started interviewing teachers. English teacher Connie Myers likes the fact that she can see where all of her students are. The system only allows students three passes per day, but Myers isn’t bothered if a student uses a fourth pass during her class. Unless they use the three passes in the same class, or something excessive like that. “I’m okay with my students using the bathroom every period,” Myers said. Attendance Secretary Rachel Reichel likes how she can have better organization for students being late. “It allows us to have better accountability for students,” Reichel said.

But even teachers feel like the system can be improved. “I wish that there was a way we could put teachers with classroom numbers, (because) I know that teachers teach in different rooms,” Myers said. Reichel thinks early dismissal passes should be another pass option in the system.

The intention of this new system is to make sure students aren’t wasting their time while outside of class. But, students and teachers are finding many negative side effects, and ways that the new system could be improved. And with this new system planning to be a permanent change, students and teachers are hoping that changes will be implemented soon.