Dorchester County Public School has recently implemented the RAPTOR Visitor and Volunteer Management Systems to help protect everyone in our school buildings.
RAPTOR Visitor Management allows us to track visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our school buildings at all times. Upon entering a district school building, visitors will be asked to present a valid state-issued ID, which will be scanned into the RAPTOR system. Each visitor is instantly screened against the 14 registered sex offender databases in all fifty states. It is important to note that the RAPTOR Visitor Management System only scans the visitor's name, date of birth and photo for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. Once entry is approved, RAPTOR will issue a badge that identifies the visitor, the date, and the purpose of his/her visit. Additional visitor data from the driver's license is not gathered nor is the system connected to any other system such as the Department of Motor Vehicles.
A visitor’s badge will not be necessary for those who visit our schools simply to drop off an item in the office or pick up paperwork. If a person does not have identification, he/she can still be given access to the building but will be escorted by a school staff member.
RAPTOR Volunteer Management is a new system for all school district volunteers. On the Dorchester County Public Schools website there is a Volunteer Application in English and a Volunteer Form in Spanish . To volunteer at a specific school, access the Volunteer Application link, and complete the form. The application will be approved or disapproved by the RAPTOR system and notifications will be sent to each individual school. The “Building Coordinators” for each school will monitor the volunteer process throughout the year. IMPORTANT: If a volunteer has been approved prior to Friday, September 20, 2024 they must fill out a new application through the RAPTOR system. The expiration date yearly for each volunteer approval will be June 30.
The safety of our students is our highest priority, and the Raptor Visitor Management and Volunteer Management Systems ensure that accurate and reliable records are kept for every visitor and volunteer that enters our schools. Therefore, all visitors and volunteers must utilize the RAPTOR systems. Thank you in advance for your understanding and support of enhancing school safety protocols in our district.