South High is always thinking about safe ways for students to leave class while still ensuring that teachers have a straightforward way of knowing where their students are.

To help streamline this process, South instituted a new passing program for the 2024-25 school year known as Hall Pass by KIDaccount.

South High dean Justin Potts shared that the system was changed due to results from surveys of both students and staff. “The main goal has been to avoid having large groups in the restrooms or hallways at the same time and to encourage students to be in class as much as possible,” Potts said.

“I really like this passing system,” said Ellen Augustine, a history teacher at South. Robin Marlowe, a Spanish teacher, shared that she also enjoys the system because it helps her know when one of her students can use the restroom or know if the restrooms are available.

Samuel Bojanski, another South dean, shared that overdue students are cleared by administration and by checking to see if a student made it to class. Regarding overdue students, “One hundred percent of the time, the teacher forgets to check them in,” Bojanski explained.

Roger Pearson, another dean at South, said that the new system helps prevent skipping and tardies.
“Parents are notified more quickly, and the students are held accountable more often,” Pearson said.
“It’s the 21st century; we are moving away from textbooks and paper passes. We are using more technology,” said Bojanski. He added that even if he personally was more comfortable with paper, this passing system was going to happen eventually. Pearson shared that he wished the system had more flexibility as far as programming options. “As time goes on, it will improve,” he said.

Both teachers and deans agree that the new and improved passing system is helpful for South, but some individuals had different opinions.

“The system doesn’t meet students’ needs,” said senior Rosalinda Jacinto.  She said that she feels the system is unfair and troublesome for students who actually want to use the restroom. Savannah Galas and Alexandra Rios, both juniors at South, shared that they also do not enjoy the new system. Galas and Rios said that often when they try to leave class on a pass, there are no passes available. They also mentioned that they believe the time limit is unreasonable.

“If I could design my own passing system, I would keep writing passes,” Galas said. She added that she would not let students take advantage of the passes and make sure the school was fair in using them.

Though they may have some reservations about Hall Pass, students also saw a positive side to the system.
Rios said that she feels comfortable and safe in the building because of the improved security measures that come along with the new system.
Alexis Abarca-Miranda, a freshman, said that “the restrooms are never full and most times you have a bathroom alone.” Abarca-Miranda also shared he finds the school safer because of this system.