School security in a swipe

Sunday, September 13, 2009
Last updated: Sunday September 13, 2009, 10:46 AM BY DEBORAH WALSH

KINNELON — Officials are keeping track of who comes in and out of their schools with a new "visitor management" security system, which can run immediate background checks with the swipe of an ID card.

The Lobby Guard, an ATM-like machine purchased through a federal grant, is operating in each of the district's five schools, said Superintendent of Schools James Opiekun. Each Lobby Guard cost $7,895.

Visitors to a school swipe a driver's license, and Lobby Guard's computerized system runs instant background checks against a sexual offender database and alerts appropriate personnel if a match is made.

If no match is found, the system generates a photo ID badge.

"We looked at our model and refined our emergency preparedness plan. We have been working with police and emergency management. It has been a good, coordinated effort," said Opiekun.

Opiekun said the Lobby Guard would also help manage the pickup of schoolchildren, along with monitoring the arrivals of visitors and employees at the schools.

Kinnelon was one of 92 school districts in 34 states to receive a share of $24 million in grant money under the federal Readiness and Emergency Management for Schools program.

Kinnelon received $99,903 last year.