When visitors arrive at Carmel High School this year, they will provide their driver’s licenses to begin a background check for criminal history. They will then be given a sticker name badge with the visitor’s name, picture and destination printed, which they are to wear while in the building.

The new electronic system this year, called School Gate Guardian, prohibits visitors and students from entering through entrances other than Doors 1, 4 and 13 and ensures their identity is not dangerous to the school.

Many wonder why this arrangement suddenly was put in place because nothing alarming occurred recently to worry the administrators. Although some contemplate that it was because of the lockdown incident last spring, they feel the decision to initiate the system is still sudden and unexplained.

School Gate Guardian may prove to be a hassle, especially for students who arrive at  school later in the day and are forced to show their ID cards to the main office. If a student accidentally leaves it at home, a parent is asked to deliver the ID. However, for those whose parents both work during the day, this can prove to be an issue.

Although the new system may create awareness for dangerous visitors at Carmel, it still does not emphasize protection from violent students already in the building. According to the U.S. Department of Education, in 2009, 69 percent of the violent deaths at school were caused by students, not adults. Therefore, much of the potential threats cannot be stopped with School Gate Guardian because students are not associated with the system.

While some may argue that School Gate Guardian system is a hassle, especially because no specific instance triggered its instigation, others realize it is ultimately for their own safety. And because other schools in the district already have employed this system, it is not unreasonable for Carmel High School to use it as well. In fact, all three middle schools as well as the 11 elementary schools in Carmel are already using School Gate Guardian.

According to Assistant Principal Doug Bird, the system is especially necessary for Carmel, which housed over 4,500 students last year. In order to maintain a safe environment at this school, it is necessary to take extra safety precautions. Regulating which doors in the building can be accessed from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. can help eliminate the anxiety of potential scenarios.

Also, the background check initiated for every visitor will severely reduce the potential of danger while increasing the level of awareness. For example, one of the first things the background check will uncover is whether the visitor is on the sex offender list, and if he is, an administrator will immediately be notified.

To reduce the hassle of the process, the School Gate Guardian only requires a visitor to scan his driver’s license every six months. This can substantially speed up the process for visitor. However, if a visitor was convicted of a felony between the six-monthcheckups, he could pose a threat to the school without any knowledge on the part of the administrators.

Overall, security for students so that they can learn in a safe environment supercedes  the hassle of having an ID card available when arriving at school late. While many can’t be certain what the outcome will be, School Gate Guardian may a big step in the right direction.