October 15, 2024 by Emma Gowen (’25)
October 15, 2024 by Isaac Reynaldo Wright (‘26)
With the start of the new school year comes the institution of a new hall pass system. This program, Securely Pass, operates through the use of a student’s personal school-issued device, obligating an online request to be submitted to the student’s current instructor via the Securely Pass application.
Assistant Principal Kevin Wolpert, a key figure in the implementation of the Securely Pass system, has provided an important perspective on the current condition of the program in Saratoga Springs High School. According to Assistant Principal Wolpert, a pivotal reason for the adoption of the Securely Pass system is that the previous handwritten hall pass system lacked “accountability and data,” creating an environment where the school administration “had no way of knowing how many kids were in the hallways or where they were.” Wolpert delineated several benefits of the new system, including its ability to “communicate to students where the nearest bathroom is,” and relieving teachers by making students accountable for creating their own passes. He emphasized that the school administration views the Securely Pass system as a new tool, “we are committed to piloting it. it’s not set in stone; we are seeing if it works for us right now, so we haven’t committed to it fully,” demonstrating a cautious and flexible approach.
Saratoga Springs High School teachers Eric Trombley and Patrick Taormina offered a moderately more critical view of the current application of Securely Pass. According to Eric Trombley and Patrick Taormina, the training was “pretty minimal. We had a Zoom meeting which I think, as all of us know, is not necessarily the best way to learn something.” Additionally, Patrick Taormina raised concerns about certain facets of the Securely Pass system, stating, “Students are not always going to be prepared with their computers, and then to have your ability to go to the bathroom tied directly to having a device doesn’t always work.”
-Isaac
Walking into the high school to begin their senior year, Toga’s administration threw students a major curveball known as Securly Pass: an electronic pass system replacing paper passes at Saratoga Springs High School.
Among the Class of 2025, one of the most notable complaints was pass limitations that restrict freedom since the system allots each student three passes per day.
“The new pass system strips away that sense of responsibility,” according to Bella Vanacore, a senior, “it almost infantilizes students, hundreds of which are 18 and legal adults, and restricts their access to the full breadth of our school.”
Max Sushynski wishes the school “wait[ed] a minute on how much and how we control students and their movements. There may be implications for student health as well. Vanacore said, “I know people who have stopped drinking as much water in order to limit their trips to the bathroom.”
Seniors also mentioned the many inconveniences caused by the online system, especially after administration claimed the website works only on school-issued devices. The system fails students on tight schedules. Creating a pass wastes time when “you have to wait for teacher approval or are taking any kind of assessment,” said Sushynski.
Leo Peter suggested allowing students to sign out on their phones for a quicker transition to the new system. Phone usage could even solve one of Vanacore’s main arguments.
“It’s cumbersome to have to take out a laptop every time you need to go somewhere,” said Vanacore.
These students did not neglect to mention the positive outcomes from the system as well. “You can no longer smell weed residue in the bathrooms, which is an amazing result!” according to Sushynski, “That’s fabulous and benefits all.” This year’s senior class is willing to give Securly a trial run until kinks are worked out in hopes of a smoother year. Their outlook on such a drastic change is admirable believing that the positives may even outweigh the negatives. Although it might take a bit to get used to, Peter said “we’ll learn to love it!”
Interviewees: Max Sushynski, Leo Peter, and Isabella Vanacore
-Emma