Kingston City Schools to Implement Cutting-Edge Database to Scan for Sex Offenders

Later this month, the Kingston City School District will implement new measures to ensure safety for students and staff across all school buildings. By the end of January, a new system for visitors will utilize a system that scans against a national database for registered sex offenders.

Kingston City School District Announces Enhanced Security System

In a letter from Superintendent of Schools Dr. Paul J. Padalino, the Kingston City School District community was recently made aware of a new visitor management system that will soon be implemented in all schools.

Beginning January 29th, the Kingston City School District will begin using the Raptor Visitor Management System to 'enhance campus safety for both students and staff.'

Citing that the safety of students is always a top priority for the school district, the new system will have a number of features to ensure that visitors are properly screened before entering any of the schools.

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How Does Raptor Visitor Management Work?

The new system will be used during primary school hours, not for after-school activities, and aside from visitor name and date of birth, no other information is collected, recorded, or shared externally.

Any person visiting any of the district buildings will be required to present a proper form of identification like a license, state-issued ID or a passport that will then be scanned into the 'Raptor' system. For those who do not have a license or passport, a picture ID can be accepted, but only with a second form of ID that has the same name on it.

The 'Raptor' system will check the visitor's name and date of birth against a national database of registered sex offenders, and if approved, a badge will be issued with the visitor's information and purpose.

Once information for a particular visitor is entered into the 'Raptor' system, visitor clearance remains valid for the duration of the school year, however, check-in will still be required for each visit to a school. building.

The largest district in Ulster County, Kingston City School District is home to approximately 6,400 students, covering about 98 square miles. There are seven elementary schools (K-4), two middle schools (5-8), and one high school campus.