New ID Policy

This semester a new policy has been set in place to help ensure the safety of the staff and students. This new policy requires all students and staff to show their Shawnee Mission School District ID to the officer near the front entrance of the school.

Originally, this rule was meant to begin at the start of the day, but due to the large mass of students coming in at once in the morning it was changed to activate after 7:40 a.m. There was a one week grace period in which students without ID’s could enter the building with a “warning”. As of Monday, Jan. 11th, identification is required in order for anyone to enter the building.

“Securing the doors at 7:40 requires everyone to go through the proper channels,” said Associate Principal Jeremy Higgins. “Whether that be the front desk or the officer at the entrance—to make sure that no one is getting into the school that shouldn’t be here.”

For students this means that coming in late to school, excused or unexcused, requires a district I.D. This has forced many students who have lost their I.D. to purchase a new one for five dollars.

“This is not meant to be a nuisance to students,” Higgins said, “It just requires everyone to check in before heading into class if you come in after 7:40.”

This new change has upset many students who have either lost their ID or do not usually carry their ID with them.

“I was coming in late to seminar and there were no spots so I parked in the back of the senior lot,” Junior Hope Hess said. “It was pouring rain and I didn’t know about the rule yet so when I got to the door and found out I needed my I.D. I had to go all the way back to my car to get my ID.”

The main goal of the new policy change is to keep everyone safe and to better secure the school. It requires all those wishing to enter our school beyond the start of the school day to go through the necessary channels so that the school is safer as a whole.