Through the Halls: New hall passes raise mixed emotions with students and staff

In early February, hall passes complete with specified room numbers started making their way around the school in an effort to prevent students from wandering the halls.
Security officer Scott Devine said he believes the change came from an idea he had last year.
“I recommended a certain color pass for the second floor, because if a student’s assigned to the second floor, they shouldn’t be on the first floor and vice versa,” Devine said. “I believe that’s how it got implemented.”
Devine previously worked at Justice High School, where a similar policy was in place, and said he is optimistic the hall passes will work.
However, freshman Megan Ice said she is concerned with the cleanliness of bringing a pass into the bathroom.
“It’s gross,” Ice said. “You’re going into the bathroom with something, and then handing it back to another kid who has to go.”
Devine said he believes the policy is sanitary if students practice proper hygiene.
“If students use hand sanitizer and wash their hands, or even get wipes just to wipe the lanyards off, spreading germs shouldn’t really be a factor,” Devine said.
New official passes will also decrease the need for teachers to come up with alternate hall pass procedures.
Sophomore Coryn Cohen said some teachers have chosen unusual items as passes, like a plunger.
“Carrying it is so embarrassing,” Cohen said.
Senior Connor Scinto was also familiar with the plunger hall pass, as well as other awkward alternatives like a backpack shield inspired by Zelda.
“There are these big things that are hard to take into the bathroom,” Scinto said. “So I like the smaller [passes] that are easier to walk around with.”
Devine said he likes to stop and spend some time talking with students roaming the halls with strange items like plungers.
“Even though we’re security, we try to create bonds with students and make them laugh,” Devine said. “Especially with you guys taking tests in subjects and wanting to get good grades, sometimes you just need a little laugh.”
Still, Devine said security personnel wants to push students to stay in the classroom as much as possible.
“At the end of the day, the goal is for students to get a good education,” Devine said. “And you can’t learn in the hallway.”