Wichita schools must be welcoming as well as secure

USD 259 made the right move in deciding this week not to enforce the new Hall Pass visitor security system until the start of each school day, rather than 10 minutes earlier. Some parents simply trying to walk their young children to their classrooms had encountered long lines at security checkpoints, where most visitors now must have their driver’s license electronically swiped and their name checked against a national sex-offender database before receiving a personalized badge. As the system goes districtwide in mid-October, though, it’s fair to wish school security hadn’t come to the point of needing such intrusive electronic scrutiny. Credit horrific events such as the Sandy Hook massacre for that sad fact, and hope that district and school leaders work hard to ensure the public still feels welcome at Wichita’s public schools. – Rhonda Holman

This story was originally published September 10, 2014 at 7:06 PM with the headline "Wichita schools must be welcoming as well as secure."