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South Plainfield students report smoother start as new security screening and phone rules take hold
Summary
Student leaders and school administrators said the district's new entry screening system and a tougher cell-phone policy have been broadly accepted during the first week of the 2025-26 school year, and principals shared check-in data showing high clearance rates and low security alerts.
Chidavere Unoha, Executive Board President of the Student Council at South High School, told the Board of Education the first days of the 2025-26 school year "went smoothly," and students have noticed two major changes: a new security screening system and a tightened cell-phone policy.
"At first, the scribe felt unusual, almost like going through TSA," Unoha said. "But the feedback has been very positive. Many of my friends and classmates have told me that they personally feel safer and I share that same feeling." She added that the phone policy has helped students focus: "I've seen more students paying attention in class, and talking to each other instead of staring at their phones."
The district's principal at the high school, Mr. Vascola, described operational results from the new Evolv screening units during the board meeting. He said the district averaged about 1,200 check-ins per day during the first week ("a little over a thousand students"), about 6,000 check-ins for the week overall, and a "95% clear rate on all check ins" that rose to 96% the following week. Vascola said there were 53 alerts on one day, roughly a 4% alert rate, and that most alerts were caused by bracelets, Beats headphones or metal items, not weapons. He said he had "not a single thing that I'm gonna... report" as a security incident from the first week.
School leaders also credited cooperation from the South Plainfield Police Department, SROs and parent volunteers for smoother traffic flow at dismissal. Vascola said a neighboring district will visit behind the high school to observe the security operations because of the positive launch.
Why it matters: The district's early data and student testimony will shape whether the screening units remain in place, whether rollout is extended to other schools, and how administrators communicate expectations to families. The board heard both student and staff perspectives during its regular meeting, and principals said they will continue to collect data and refine procedures.
Administrators and the student representative also highlighted other opening-week items: upcoming events such as homecoming on Oct. 1, a senior college-planning night on Sept. 25, PSATs on Oct. 15, and dates for school pictures and assemblies. Unoha praised the marching band's competition win and noted student activities planned for respect week in October.
Board members and staff thanked students and families for cooperation, and several board members said they had heard positive feedback from parents and students. The board did not take a formal policy vote on the security units during this meeting; administrators said monitoring and data collection would continue.
