New Security Policy Requires Jenks High School Students To Scan ID To Enter Buildings

Jenks students are heading back to the classroom a week from today. Those students will notice some updated security policies when they return to campus for the first day of school.

There are several different buildings scattered around the high school campus that students walk to and from to get to class. This fall, students will now be using their school ID to scan into each building.

The hallways inside Jenks High School are still quiet, but summer break is over for administrators.

In addition to a new year and new faces, there are also new security protocols.

"On the front will be their picture, the school year that we're in, their barcode," said assistant principal Eric VanZee.

Students will now use that barcode to scan into each building on the high school campus. After entering their ID number, the doors will unlock.

"Every student is issued an ID; the expectation is every student has their ID on them and wears it," said VanZee.

He says the IDs help staff quickly identify who should and should not be inside the buildings.

In the past, the doors would unlock around passing periods, but entry would now be allowed only using the ID and codes.

VanZee thinks there will be a learning curve to the new change, but it will make entry much safer.

"We have four academic buildings, plus a music building, three gyms here on campus; we've got students traveling all over," he said.

Signs are also posted around the inside of the high school, asking students to report something if they think it's out of the ordinary.

The district says the anonymous tipline to make a report has been a big success.

"Safety is our school and our district's number one priority," VanZee said. "If kids aren't safe, they don't feel safe, they can't learn."

The district anticipates some students losing or damaging their IDs. There are replacements available, but it will cost a fee.