West Seneca finishes secure vestibules at three schools; will roll out Raptor visitor-management checks

The West Seneca Central School District said this summer it completed secure vestibules at Allendale Elementary, Winchester Potter and Clinton Elementary and will launch the Raptor visitor-management system this fall to screen visitors who enter school buildings during the instructional day.

Superintendent said the vestibules create a single point of entrance and described the Raptor system: visitors entering through the interior set of doors will be asked to state the purpose of their visit and present government-issued identification that will be scanned. The superintendent said the system “checks the individual's identification against the national *** offender database and registry.” All visitors who are admitted will be printed a visitor ID badge to wear during their visit.

District officials clarified that the requirement applies only to visitors who pass the second set of doors and actually enter the building; items left for students in the vestibule will be handled by main office staff without entering the main building. The district said communications about these changes went out in July and will be sent again in August so families are aware when school opens.

The district described the change as a safety enhancement and said the last three secure vestibule projects will be completed before the fall opening. No vote was required for the announcement; the improvements were presented as completed capital-improvement work.

Quote excerpt: Superintendent said, “This is going to be an added layer of safety so that we have assurances as to who we are allowing to have access into our school during the school day.”