Vsoft

Introduction

Judson ISD has deployed the Vsoft visitor management system as part of its responsibility to provide a safe school environment for its students and staff. The system allows schools and facilities to produce visitor badges, monitor volunteer hours, and electronically check all visitors against registered sexual offender databases. The overall goal is to better control access to Judson ISD schools; thus providing enhanced protection for our students and staff.  Judson ISD considers parents as partners in their children's education and encourages parents to actively participate in their children’s education and school, while maintaining a safe learning environment for all.

FAQ's

What is the Vsoft system?

Vsoft is a visitor registration system that enhances school security by scanning visitor identification, comparing information to a sex offender database, alerting campus administrators if a match is found, then (assuming no match was made) printing a visitor badge that includes a photo.

How does it work?

Information is scanned from any state, military ID, or other ID and is compared to a database that consists of registered sex offenders from all states. If a match is found, campus administrators will take appropriate steps to ensure campus safety.

Why is Judson ISD using this system?

Safety of Judson ISD students is our highest priority. This system provides a consistent way to track visitors and volunteers while keeping away those who present a danger to students and staff members. The system quickly prints visitor badges that include a photo, the name of the visitor, time and date.

Do registered sexual offenders have a right to enter schools?

If a sexual offender has a legitimate reason to be on campus (e.g., visiting a legal dependent) and a court order does not prevent them from visiting the child and/or the school, then yes, the law permits them to enter a school. However, such individuals will only be given limited access while accompanied by a Judson ISD administrator or designee. Judson ISD cannot deny access (unless a court order requires it) to an individual’s own child. Schools can, however, deny a sexual offender access to other students.

What other information is the school taking from drivers’ licenses?

Vsoft scans the visitor’s name, date of birth and photo for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. Visitor information is stored for visitor/volunteer tracking and logging purposes. Additional visitor data will not be gathered and no data will be shared with any outside company or organization.

How is the district paying for this system?

The Vsoft system costs approximately $1,500 per campus, which is paid out of Judson ISD’s budget.

Should we scan every visitor into the system, including Judson ISD employees?

Yes. Non campus Judson ISD employees who do not have an official Judson ISD photo ID visible must be scanned and wear the Vsoft badge. Non campus Judson ISD employees who have their employee photo ID visible must use a paper sign in log.

Does Judson ISD have the right to require visitors, even parents, to produce identification before entering the campus?

Yes. Schools need to know who is on the campus and why they are there. District employees also need to be able to confirm that an individual has the authority to have access to the student.

What if a visitor refuses to show identification or does not have an ID?

Contact a campus administrator immediately. The administrator can question the individual and explain the process to them. The administrator, based on this knowledge of the person and situation, can make a determination to allow entry or refuse access to the facility and/or a student when no ID is presented. If the administrator allows entry, they will manually enter information for the visitor. The visitor will have to be escorted by administrator or designee during their visit.

Should the ID’s of police officers, firemen and other uniformed or similar governmental officials be entered into the system?

Yes. Again, this is to allow Judson ISD to know who is on campus at all times. However, law enforcement personnel visiting a campus on official business can be given the option to have their information entered manually by presenting their photo ID badge or state-issued identification.

If a “hit” comes back indicating that the person just scanned is a sexual offender, do I have reason to fear?

No. Some sexual offenders are going to be relatives of one of your students and have a legitimate reason to be on campus. Normal caution should always be followed and paying attention to the individual’s demeanor, body language and verbal cues is, as in any situation, the key to your personal safety. If in doubt, always summon help immediately. Remain calm and ask the person to take a seat, as school officials must approve the visit. Do not go into detail or give further explanations. Contact a campus administrator immediately so they can follow Judson ISD procedures (employees refer to “Match with the Database” in JISD Procedure G2).