Collinsville High School has implemented a new hall pass system entitled ‘Smart Pass.’ Smart Pass is an electronic pass that shows teachers and administration where students should be going and how long they will be out of the classroom. This is to ensure safety for the students and to prioritize class time.
Why the switch? “It was noticed that passes were being abused, stolen, or not used at all,” said Principal Bobby Wright. This system helps us to keep track of where students are/have been.” Administration would like to see students in class rather than roaming the halls. “ Our goal is to have as many students in class as possible. The goal is to maximize this. It also takes blame away from teachers when a student abuses passes every hour and runs out of Smart
Passes. We also hope to prevent students from being in the hallway with other students they are not supposed to see or be around.”
A major issue with Smart Pass is user error. There has been a bit of confusion with how the system works and students forget to end their passes when returning to the classroom. Overall, feedback has been positive, as teachers and students need to make sure to use this pass system consistently so it is fair, consistent, and predictable.
“I feel like Smart Passes have several benefits for both students and staff,” said Social Studies teacher Mr. Tostado. “They have helped make things more organized and consistent across the school. For staff, it’s helpful to know when students are out and where they’re going without having to stop teaching to create a paper pass. For students, it adds some structure and accountability, but also gives you all a bit of independence. It’s meant to help students manage their time more responsibly,” he added.
Overall, it seems like Smart Pass has had a positive effect on students, teachers, and staff combined. The process is a lot easier for students because they can request a pass in the system for the teacher they are currently in class with, then they can ask their teacher to go and all they have to do is accept the pass and students are able to go. It creates efficiency and keeps class time productive and focused. However not everyone has found the new system beneficial. “Smart passes are not quick or efficient as it takes a while to log on to Smart Pass,” said Sophomore Carmen Bautista “The app is glitching all the time and barely works. It was easier when the teacher would just let us go or write a paper pass.” Sometimes the Smart Pass system does not work properly.
“There are definitely some errors with the Smart Pass system and the site often has issues running correctly,” said Senior Kylie Bryant. “One problem with Smart Pass that often occurs is that it doesn’t let you make a pass if you have already used two passes that day, and it often shows this even when you haven’t made any passes that day. I think Smart Pass works well in some situations, but there are many situations where it won’t work. For example, oftentimes the internet doesn’t work well which causes a variety of problems.”
Overall, it seems there is mixed feedback between staff and students about this new pass system. Despite its hurdles, Smart Pass represents a step toward a more organized and accountable school day. Teachers, administrators, and students are still learning how to navigate the system, but each week brings improvements in consistency and ease of use. As the school continues working out the kinks, Smart Pass has the potential to become a dependable tool that keeps students safe, minimizes disruptions, and helps make every minute of class time count.
