As we move into 2025, there have been some modifications in school policy. One major change is the introduction of the new digital pass, SmartPass.
This new pass system was implemented because of the school’s need for organization and protection. Because of recent events across the country relative to the safety of the school, the school organizers chose SmartPass for their efficient and effective way to keep track of students and preserve their well-being.
To address this issue, Dr. Stephen Quinn and Mr. Anson Smith, the Vice Principals of Hopewell Valley Central High School, introduced a system called SmartPass, which is required to be used by all students whenever they leave a classroom during a class period.
Usability
Students can use this app (that some students have found contentious) by logging into the website using their school-issued Chromebooks. Once there, they have to enter their classroom and destination, such as the water fountain, the bathroom, or the nurse’s office. After this step, the student may need to ask their teacher before leaving the class, but once that is attended to, they press start, and depending on where they’re going, a timer immediately starts.
For the most common reasons to leave the classroom, which are to use the restroom and fill water, a timer begins. Seven minutes are allocated for a bathroom pass and 4 minutes for a water-fountain pass. Hall monitors and administrators can see which students are in the halls. Student profile pictures are displayed on their computers whenever someone makes a pass.
Controversy
However, much controversy has been sparked with the introduction of this new software. Almost all of the students have strong opinions on this topic, some complaining about its redundancy, others about its usability, and many about the inconveniences it creates.
Vice Principal Smith explained, “The biggest disadvantage for us was not knowing how the features would match up with the needs of our high school community. Over the last few weeks, it has been a learning curve for students, teachers, and administrators.”
Cons
At first, some students have reported frustrations with technical glitches. The app’s inflexibility compared to what it was before has also caused tension within the student population. However, teachers can override the system in case any emergencies occur, which implies that the frustration may just be attributed to their inexperience with the new program.
Seniors were also negatively affected by SmartPass due to a feature called the “No-Fly Zone”, where SmartPass usage is prohibited for the first and last few minutes of class. This could potentially prove to be problematic.
Senior Yash Patel, President of the National Honors Society, comments how the No-Fly Zone “is fine if you use it to go to the bathroom, but for other things like senior option it can become troublesome.” However, the No-Fly Zone has been removed for the beginning of the class to resolve this issue.
The freshmen class also had some things to say about how much of a nuisance it is to use SmartPass. Although some were indifferent, others thought that it was a “waste of time… you have to use your Chromebook, and it requires unnecessary work. Many of us had stopped filling up our waters and stopped using the bathroom to avoid it.”
Pros
On the other hand, SmartPass has posed some great benefits for the school. Students don’t have to scan their school ID’s anymore. All they have to do is start a pass, go use the bathroom, and then end it, without needing to use their school-issued IDs. This makes it easier for everyone—if you accidentally forget your school ID one day, you are still able to use the bathroom.
Many teachers feel that Smartpass is a great addition to Hopewell Valley Central High School. According to ceramics teacher Mrs. Masterson-Damm. “I really like it—there are less people in the hallway, minimal wandering, and less people asking to use the bathroom.” Other students have also noticed how there are fewer people in the halls.
However, the biggest benefit is that it eliminates the need for paper hall passes, allowing students to request passes digitally. Last year, there were many cases where students were unable to use the bathroom because their classroom’s paper hall pass was missing. Now, all you have to do is simply click the “create pass” button, and it automatically creates a digital pass for you. In addition, Mr. Smith explains how SmartPass increases the safety of the students when “the SmartPass emergency feature can provide teachers and administrators with information on student locations in real time.”
Overall, SmartPass has brought a new solution to excessive wandering and lost hall passes: reduced hallway traffic and ease of pass management. However, the technical glitches, inflexibility, and frustrations of students reveal areas that can be improved. Some groups of students have expressed frustration with the application, while others are completely neutral. Such a mixed reception surely points out that implementation is far from perfect. While it is promising, SmartPass will need to work on refining the balance between convenience and practicality if it’s ever going to live up to serving all users’ needs.
