Swipe or no swipe? New ID card swiping policies spark confusion

Abyaz Mahboob

ID scanner at QSI door on 76th Road.

Students have questions about the new rules that require them to swipe their school identification cards to enter the building. Specifically, due to the lack of a publicized door schedule some students are unsure about when and where they should swipe, and with no ID card scanner at the main entrance, they’re concerned that their attendance record may be impacted. 

There are four doors that students can use to enter and exit the building. The two QSI doors, the cafeteria door and main entrance to the building. However, they’re not all always open.

“It can be quite tough not knowing which entrance to use; sometimes forgetting which entrance is open at a certain time,” said Lara Joy Jusi, a senior. “It can be difficult and very time consuming navigating the entrances that we are allowed to walk in,” she said.

In early October, Principal Meredith Inbal stated that there would be schedules posted “in a few weeks so students know where to go” in order to enter the building and be able to swipe their ID cards. As of Nov. 4, there were none posted.

Most students know that the two QSI doors, which both have ID card scanners, are open in the mornings until 9:45 a.m. And according to staff member Samantha Cuadrado, the cafeteria doors are open for an hour, from 12 p.m. through 1 p.m., during which time there is an ID scanner for students to use. 

However, some students are concerned about being marked down as absent or cutting if they come to school outside of these times and have to enter through the main entrance where there is no ID card scanner. Apparently these students are unaware that they can swipe in at the main office, where, according to school aide Susanne Ampuero, there’s an ID card scanner.

The upgrade to the card swiping machine allows for the school to easily track and record students entering and exiting the building. However, even though Principal Inbal acknowledged that the ID scanner “connects to the official attendance,” it seems students shouldn’t worry about being marked absent or as cutting based on them.

“Every teacher is taking attendance, and if you leaving the building with your lunch schedule you have to scan out,” said Cuadrado. “The scan is for accountability for the students coming back on time for their classes, not for attendance.” 

Although the ID card scanner aims to ensure accountability, it can create issues and annoyances for students. One issue is that it can take a lot of time to swipe in.

“I feel like it’s a good thing for the staff members, but for the students it can be a little bit of a hassle, since [students have to] wait and scan in; some people don’t have their IDs so now [students are] late to class,” said Tyler Marshall, a school aide who often monitors the doors that have ID card scanners.

Many students feel it’s annoying but acknowledge that this new system can be very helpful for some things. 

“Let’s say there was no ID verification and a stranger acts like a student and enters the building,” said Adriel Espana, a junior. “That obviously isn’t good, so showing and scanning the IDs is good.”