Visitor screenings in MCPS

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because there is a procedure or policy doesn’t mean it’s actually enforced or enacted. I visited a middle school recently as a teacher candidate. Made sure to bring my license because I thought it would get scanned when I signed in. I was shocked when not only did I not have to sign in, but when I buzzed the front door they just unlocked it. Nobody asked me to identify myself!

All the schools my kids have gone to in MCPS have been very strict about following the procedures. Which should are you talking about specifically?

Same. And due to one of my kids medical problems, I was at the schools (3 different ones) probably >100x a year, sometimes multiple a day. The single only time I didn’t have to go through protocol was during a life threatening emergency.

If they don't identify the school, I have to believe this is just another troll intended to cast MCPS in a bad light. Seems like that's a popular pastime with a few regular posters and it's getting old.

[Anonymous]

At our MCPS ES, I get buzzed into the office and asked for ID. At our MS, I just get buzzed in and then wait to pick up my kid. I don't know if they look at me through the little camera outside (I definitely look like a middle-aged mom) or just robotically buzz me in. It seems like I could access other areas of the school once buzzed in. I just go into the office but I don't think the interior doors into the school hallway are locked or have any other buzzer or security.

[Anonymous]

Yeah exactly. You get buzzed into the front office where they may or may not check ID ... but the interior doors aren't secured, so.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yeah exactly. You get buzzed into the front office where they may or may not check ID ... but the interior doors aren't secured, so.

so you're not going anywhere ....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow.

My kids are at two different MCPS ES and the visitor policy at each is *intense*. I (white, woman, UMC) regularly volunteer at both and get the third degree every single time. Must be buzzed into a locked vestibule, then allowed into the main office (and only have access to the office from that vestibule), where I have to scan my DL and get a printed nametag to show exactly who I am and where I am going. Then the secretary asks me again where I am going and let's me into the actual school.

My experience, too! Except my first and last name are the same as an offender in Frederick Co, so I always tell them to check my middle name.

Op here - so anyone know why is the procedure so different school to school? I’m going to write our principal and ask about the DL/name tag procedures. A sign in sheet is unacceptable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because there is a procedure or policy doesn’t mean it’s actually enforced or enacted. I visited a middle school recently as a teacher candidate. Made sure to bring my license because I thought it would get scanned when I signed in. I was shocked when not only did I not have to sign in, but when I buzzed the front door they just unlocked it. Nobody asked me to identify myself!

All the schools my kids have gone to in MCPS have been very strict about following the procedures. Which should are you talking about specifically?

Same. And due to one of my kids medical problems, I was at the schools (3 different ones) probably >100x a year, sometimes multiple a day. The single only time I didn’t have to go through protocol was during a life threatening emergency.

If they don't identify the school, I have to believe this is just another troll intended to cast MCPS in a bad light. Seems like that's a popular pastime with a few regular posters and it's getting old.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow.

My kids are at two different MCPS ES and the visitor policy at each is *intense*. I (white, woman, UMC) regularly volunteer at both and get the third degree every single time. Must be buzzed into a locked vestibule, then allowed into the main office (and only have access to the office from that vestibule), where I have to scan my DL and get a printed nametag to show exactly who I am and where I am going. Then the secretary asks me again where I am going and let's me into the actual school.

My experience, too! Except my first and last name are the same as an offender in Frederick Co, so I always tell them to check my middle name.

Op here - so anyone know why is the procedure so different school to school? I’m going to write our principal and ask about the DL/name tag procedures. A sign in sheet is unacceptable.

which school is this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah exactly. You get buzzed into the front office where they may or may not check ID ... but the interior doors aren't secured, so.

so you're not going anywhere ....

If you really wanted to dart through, you could, unfortunately.

[Anonymous]

At the elementary I work at, the intercom that is supposed to be used to ask a visitor who they are and why they are there has been broken since it was installed. The principal has reported it multiple times, it is still broken.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah exactly. You get buzzed into the front office where they may or may not check ID ... but the interior doors aren't secured, so.

so you're not going anywhere ....

If you really wanted to dart through, you could, unfortunately.

You probably don't know about the acid pit or tiger pit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At the elementary I work at, the intercom that is supposed to be used to ask a visitor who they are and why they are there has been broken since it was installed. The principal has reported it multiple times, it is still broken.

Identify school or we have to conclude this is just more trolling

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:At the elementary I work at, the intercom that is supposed to be used to ask a visitor who they are and why they are there has been broken since it was installed. The principal has reported it multiple times, it is still broken.

Identify school or we have to conclude this is just more trolling

I identified two schools and the post was deleted. I can understand that it’s a security risk to publish which schools are lax with security.

Perhaps MCPS could set up a way people can provide feedback regarding their specific schools. The point would be to make schools safer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What is the procedure for visitors entering your school? Is there an MCPS policy? I walked in as a parent volunteer for the first time and just had to sign in. Was figuring there’d be more security.

Open door policy. Students inside open the door and let people in all day long. Students are visiting each others schools in the county. Principals document this going on, but they can't control the number of students that freely hop on buses and visit other schools during the school day. Students in the schools let in people they see outside.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just because there is a procedure or policy doesn’t mean it’s actually enforced or enacted. I visited a middle school recently as a teacher candidate. Made sure to bring my license because I thought it would get scanned when I signed in. I was shocked when not only did I not have to sign in, but when I buzzed the front door they just unlocked it. Nobody asked me to identify myself!

All the schools my kids have gone to in MCPS have been very strict about following the procedures. Which should are you talking about specifically?

One of the Olney schools

[Anonymous]

Our elementary school in the Wheaton area is not very secure. There are only two secretaries. They have to buzz you in but when they do they don’t even look up to see who came in. It would be so easy to get in and go right through the unlocked interior doors. I usually awkwardly wait for the secretary to look up and acknowledge me. I then sign in, with no ID checked (albeit, they know me). I’m not a troll, I truly do love MCPS for all they do, but I have serious concerns for safety. When we lived in Fairfax county, there were several secretaries who scanned in my drivers license and gave me a badge with my photo on it. I hope MCPS can follow.