Epsom Central School has computerized check-in system

Hooksett Editor — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 19:16:00 GMT

Epsom Central School parent Tracy Rondeau moved the mouse over the computer screen of the school’s new computerized registration system, and clicked the red “finished” icon. Rondeau, who will have four children in ECS next fall, said the laptop- based system will save her check-in and check-out time.

“If I have to sign them all in individually, I’ll be here for 10 minutes,” she said.

ECS brought in the system, made by the Ident-A-Kid company, over the winter. The program streamlines the check-in process, creating fewer paper piles and automatically entering the visitor/volunteer/student into the system. It’s good for the environment, good for the front office staff and good for Epsom checkbooks -- Ident-A-Kid donated the system to the school.

On a Friday morning, receptionist Carol Neely watched Rondeau and other parents check in. Neely, who has been at the school 21 years, said nothing in technology surprises her any more.

“When I started here, we had typewriters.”

The computer doesn’t affect her job that much, Neely said, because the parents did most of the sign-in work themselves anyway. But it’s a boon to the parents and volunteers, who can complete the process at the click of a button.

The computer has icons for visitors, volunteers, staff arrival and departure, substitute teachers, student early dismissal and late arrival, and vendors. The machine takes a photo of the user to be stored in the system, and a printer spits out a personalized visitor pass.

But there’s more. Neely pointed out the central icon on the screen: the “Instant Predator Check,” a link to the National Sex Offender Registry. At the click of a mouse, staff can tell whether or not a visitor is welcome.

Principal Patrick Connors said Ident-A-Kid donated the software, printer, labels and camera, approximately $500 worth of equipment. The school used a laptop it already had. The school is the first one in SAU 53 to have the technology, he said, adding, “Ident-A-Kid came to us and offered it.”

As she logged herself in to volunteer, parent Lisa Canning said, “I think it’s great. I’ve got three children in this school, and I’m in here just about every day.”

Epsom News : computers

Epsom Central School has computerized check-in system