Smart Pass Debuts: Digital Hall Pass to Track Student Movements

by Trinity Gruenberg

trinity@inhnews.com

The Verndale School Board held their regular meeting on Monday, August 4. Board Member Chuck Dick was absent.

Administrative Reports

Principal Katie Bolland reported on several updates for the school. There have been some staff changes: Luella Stelck is moving from high school special education to a trades and industry teaching position. Andrea Mathison-Valley will be the new high school special education teacher, and Brian Sterriker will join as the elementary music teacher. The school is still seeking a long-term education assistant substitute and a kindergarten teacher, with interviews scheduled for the following Monday.

Upcoming events include new teacher workshops, fall workshop days, and a back-to-school open house. The first day of school for most grades is September 2, with all grades in session by September 3. The school is adjusting its daily schedule to start at 8:10 a.m. and end at 3:13 p.m. to better accommodate lunch periods and streamline the master schedule.

The school will implement Smart Pass, an online hall pass system for grades 7–12. This system will help monitor student movement, limit the number of students in certain areas, and provide data to support conversations with students and parents about time spent out of class. Teachers and students are expected to benefit from the increased structure and data provided by this new system.

Superintendent Jeannie Mayer highlighted the district’s primary objectives for the year: increasing student achievement, boosting enrollment, enhancing community engagement, and maintaining financial stability.

These goals were discussed at a recent retreat and are reflected in both district-wide and her personal superintendent goals, which include optimizing student achievement, strengthening enrollment, ensuring financial responsibility, and supporting staff development...

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