August 8, 2022
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Visitors of EMSD #37,
The East Moline School District is pleased to announce that starting in August we will begin using the Raptor Visitor and Volunteer Management System in all of our schools in order to strengthen our safety protocols for students and faculty. Part of keeping students and staff safe is knowing who is in our buildings at all times. The Raptor system will allow us to screen visitors, volunteers, and contractors in our schools and provide us with a safer environment for our students and employees.
Upon entering a District school building for the first time, visitors will be asked to present a government-issued ID, such as a driver’s license, to be scanned into the system. The Raptor system will check to ensure that registered sex offenders are not entering our school buildings. It is important to note that the Raptor system only scans the visitor’s name, date of birth, and photo for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. The registered sex offender database is the only official database checked by the Raptor system. Additional visitor data from the government-issued ID is not gathered nor is the system connected to any other system or outside agency. Once entry is approved, Raptor will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his or her visit.
This process will be followed for any visitor wishing to access the school building beyond the school foyer. A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the main office or pick up paperwork. Visitors will need to present ID for scanning at each new school they visit, as each school database is individual to the system. Subsequent visits to previously visited school buildings will not require presentation of a government-issued ID as the visitor is already registered within Raptor and will be able to check in with the school secretary.
Please note, if you do not have a Government issued ID for some reason, there is still a way to be able to visit our schools. Please review the Raptor FAQ linked here for more information. If you are interested in learning more about the Raptor Visitor and Volunteer Management system, please visit the Raptor Technologies website (www.raptortech.com). If you have any questions regarding the District’s use of the program, please contact Michael Ryan, Raptor Administrator, at 309-755-1919 ext. 208. The safety of our students is our highest priority and the Raptor Visitor and Volunteer Management system provides a consistent way for us to quickly identify those who may present a danger to our students. Therefore, all visitors to the school must be scanned into the system and obtain a visitor badge.
Thank you in advance for your understanding and support of enhancing school safety protocols in the East Moline School District.
Best Regards,
Dr. Kristin Humphries
Superintendent