Access Controllers

Dortronics continues to enhance its portfolio of smart door interlock and mantrap solutions with their highly versatile and economical 4800 Series Intelligent Interlock Controllers and 4900 Series PLC Mantrap Controllers, which are both prominently featured in the company’s new exhibit at GSX 2018 (booth #714). Door interlocking solutions Our enhanced line of door interlock and mantrap controllers are designed with the latest features and capabilities" “We are continuing to see heightened interest in door interlocking solutions for implementation across a wide range of vertical markets as end-users look for more efficient and cost-effective ways to protect people, property and assets,” said Bryan Sanderford, National Sales Manager, Dortronics Systems, Inc. “Our enhanced line of door interlock and mantrap controllers are designed with the latest features and capabilities that our reseller partners in the field need, and we will continue to listen to their invaluable input to build products that meet their customers’ door control needs.” The 4800 Series Door Interlock Controller accommodates up to five doors, including doors with automatic openers. The unit features adjustable timers for propped door time, panic release unlock time, and unlock pause time for REX unlock time. Additional features include 12 inputs for door status, request for access, interlock override and emergency unlock. The unit features PLC logic that allows only one of multiple interlocked doors to be unsecured at a timeThe unit’s 17 outputs control door locks (fail-safe or fail-secure), traffic lights and mirror door status with alarm outputs. Additional features include a watchdog circuit to monitor operation, LED input/output status indication and voltage spike/surge protection. The 4800 Series is available as a controller board only or with a 4-amp power supply. 4900 Series PLC Mantrap Controllers The 4900 Series 4900 PLC Mantrap features 12/24V selectable outputs for increased scalability and higher cost-efficiency in large installations with multiple door locks and alarm devices. This highly versatile off-the-shelf mantrap solution is compatible with any access control system or guard station controls. The unit features PLC logic that allows only one of multiple interlocked doors to be unsecured at a time. Simultaneous requests for access or requests for access while any single door is open are denied maintaining the highest levels of security. Additional features include: single I/O module to handle 8-inputs and 8-outputs; selectable relays for 12 or 24 Volts; expandable to accommodate over 100 inputs and 100 outputs; and special programmed logic for custom solutions. Each output includes: wet/dry jumper; pluggable terminals; fuse protection; TVS kickback protection; and normally open or normally closed relay outputs.

Dortronics, global provider of off-the-shelf and customised door control solutions, is showcasing the latest enhancements to its extensive product portfolio here at GSX 2018 (booth #714). Featured solutions include: the highly versatile and economical 4800 Series Intelligent Interlock Controllers and 4900 Series PLC Mantrap Controllers; and a wide selection of door control switches, pushbuttons and annunciators that can be customised to meet specific user needs with quick turn-around times at competitive prices. Door access control solutions Dortronics is also promoting expansion of its popular lunch and learn accredited course offerings, which can be scheduled at the show. “The door control category is extremely price-competitive with commoditised products from offshore suppliers. Dortronics has carved a unique niche in this market by specialising in certain categories like interlocking door solutions and customised products,” said Bryan Sanderford, National Sales Manager, Dortronics Systems, Inc. “In addition to providing customers with the products they need and when they need them, every Dortronics product is designed and manufactured in the US with the highest levels of quality and reliability.” 4800 Series Door Interlock Controller The enhanced 4800 Series Door Interlock Controller accommodates up to five doors, including doors with automatic openers  The enhanced 4800 Series Door Interlock Controller accommodates up to five doors, including doors with automatic openers ideal for numerous SMB, clean room and retail applications, and the upgraded 4900 Series 4900 PLC Mantrap with 12/24V selectable outputs delivering increased scalability and higher cost-efficiency for large installations with multiple door locks and alarm devices. Also on display is a wide sampling of Customised Door Control Products to demonstrate Dortronics’ ability to respond to fast-turnaround customised solutions, including switches with laser etched or engraved paint filled lettering, custom plate sizes and annunciators in multiple configurations and form factors. Dortronics’ course on access control Dortronics is also promoting the expansion of its Accredited Lunch and Learn Course Offerings with Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) and American Institution of Architects (AIA) Continuing Education Credits. Two one-hour courses include: Door Interlocks: Applications and System Design, and Electronic Locking Devices for Access Control Systems. Show attendees are welcome to schedule on-site lunch and learn sessions with Dortronics while at GSX 2018.

Dortronics may be one of the only manufacturers of customised door control products at GSX 2018 (booth #714), or any other show across the U.S. one may have attended in past years. With all product design and manufacturing taking place on site at their Sag Harbor, NY headquarters, Dortronics has carved a unique niche in the access and door control category by providing customers with fast turnaround times and competitive pricing for customised products. Customised door control solutions “We’ve been manufacturing customised door control products with fast turnaround times since the inception of this company,” said Bryan Sanderford, National Sales Manager, Dortronics Systems, Inc. “At first, the customisation requests were more geared towards tweaking a product or manufacturing a specialty item for a specific application, but as physical security installations have become more prolific in high profile facilities, the need for custom finishes and engraving has really escalated. Aside from Dortronics, there are very few, if any, options available to have door control products customised with fast turnaround time and at a competitive price.” Dortronics’ highly flexible and versatile manufacturing facility can deliver a wide range of customised products including switches with durable, highly visible laser etched or engraved paint filled lettering, custom plate sizes and annunciators in almost any shape and size. Dortronics’ fast order fulfillment turnaround assures installers will get what they need fast to avoid installation delays. Dortronics also offers a comprehensive line of magnetic locks, push buttons and key switches in special finishes such as polished or brushed chrome or brass, as well as color anodised aluminum from stock.

Dortronics, global manufacturer of electric locking hardware and controls for the security industry, announces the expansion of its lunch and learn course offerings by adding Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI) Continuing Education Credits. BICSI is a professional association supporting the advancement of the information and communications technology (ICT) community. ICT covers the spectrum of voice, data, electronic safety & security, project management, and audio and video technologies. These informative sessions provide designers, specifiers, and resellers the opportunity to explore and compare the various types of door hardware, interlocking systems and their applications. Topics include mantraps, sally ports and cleanroom/laboratory air locks, and their applications. Courses on door and access control solutions Dortronics continues to offer AIA and BICSI courses in a small and relaxed environmentThe lunch and learn sessions are accredited by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) as well as recognised by BICSI. Upon successful completion of each course, participants will receive one BICSI CEC and/or one AIA Learning Unit. These informative sessions provide users with detailed information on how door control solutions are designed, manufactured and implemented, and address both off-the-shelf and custom options available. Dortronics continues to offer AIA and BICSI courses in a small and relaxed environment. Two one-hour courses are currently available: Door Interlocks: Applications and system design reviews the various types of door interlocks, mantraps, sally ports and their applications as well as discusses the different types of interlock controls and the accessories required for a fully functional system. Electronic Locking Devices for access control systems reviews electrified door locking hardware and related components which interface with electronic access controllers to provide a complete security solution.

Boon Edam Inc., a global provider of security entrances and architectural revolving doors, is proud to announce the launch of the Lifeline Boost access control pedestal mount, an attractive and welcoming addition to the Lifeline Speedlane series of optical turnstiles. The Lifeline Boost was created in response to the many requests for a well-designed, innovative and unobtrusive pedestal to accommodate a long list of authorisation technologies and complement the existing Lifeline Speedlane series. The Lifeline Boost has been engineered with the comfort of the end-user in mind; it is ergonomic, at a comfortable height and features the classic tapered V-shape synonymous with the Lifeline Speedlane series and of course, offers the same outstanding energy saving features our customers have come to expect from Boon Edam. Easy and fast to install The Boost pedestal is easy and fast to install due to its enclosed raceway that can house electrical and ACS conduit along the surface of any finished floor Using modern and intuitive technology, the Lifeline Boost pedestal mount guides each visitor through to their destination without delay or inconvenience. As with the Lifeline Speedlane series, a selection of proven and intuitive light symbols indicate what the visitor needs to do next, from their initial approach, through the authorisation steps and their exit into the secured side. The latest Lifeline Boost access control pedestal is available in three models: Standard Premium: Suitable for the integration of a card reader, barcode reader or biometric devices. Card Collector: Suitable to integrate a third-party card collector device. Nortech Card Collector: Built/integrated with the Nortech MRC350 card collector. In addition to accommodating a wide variety of authorisation technologies, the Boost pedestal is easy and fast to install due to its enclosed raceway that can house electrical and ACS conduit along the surface of any finished floor. Its small footprint and sleek design complement the clean lines of the Lifeline Speedlane optical turnstiles with minimal visual impact. Streamlined and compact pedestal Intuitive LED lights detect the visitor approaching and guide them through clearly and easily Users will find the Boost uncomplicated and intuitive to operate as they provide their credentials and then pass through the lane. Intuitive LED lights detect the visitor approaching and guide them through clearly and easily – without any compromise to the journey flow. The directional indicator symbols stand out beautifully against the premium dark, tempered glass and installation does not require any cables to go through the floor. Daan van Beusekom, Product Manager, Royal Boon Edam International B.V. says: "We believe in creating welcoming and secure security access solutions and saw there was a need to develop a pedestal to enable more integration possibilities for the Lifeline Speedlane series." "The new Lifeline Boost fulfills this mission - it is streamlined and compact – with the same ergonomic and sleek features of the Lifeline Speedlane series – and can accommodate almost any authorization technology available. We’re proud to launch this clever and compact addition to the family," he further added.

Suprema, a provider of biometrics and security, announces that the company will showcase GDPR-ready enterprise access control solutions at Security Essen 2018 including its latest range of biometric readers, multi-band RF card readers, mobile credentials and access control software platform. At the show, Suprema will introduces BioLite N2, the world's best performing outdoor fingerprint terminal. BioLite N2 is designed for both the enterprise access control systems and time attendance applications with well blends Suprema's technologies and innovative features. With a powerful 1.2GHz CPU and massive 4GB memory, BioLite N2 achieves incredible matching speed up to 20,000 matches per second and accommodates up to 10,000 users and provides instant matching results with minimal lag time. Mobile credential technology For reliable operation under extreme conditions such as outdoor installation and harsh climate, BioLite N2 features a rugged IP67 structure with a operating temperature range between -20 to 50 C. The device also features illuminated keypad and high-contrast GUI for better visibility under various lighting conditions. BioStar 2 Mobile Card enables users to issue electronic ID cards in users' smartphones, which capable of completely replacing existing plastic cards To answer emerging demand of mobile credential technology in EU market, Suprema will reveal its latest development of mobile credential technology. The latest BioStar 2 Mobile Card enables users to issue electronic ID cards in users' smartphones, which capable of completely replacing existing plastic cards. To make the mobile credential versatile over both Android smartphones as well as iPhones, BioStar 2 Mobile Card supports NFC and BLE communication. Revenue opportunity "At Suprema, we are pleased to announce the expansion of the enterprise-level security solution with the addition of high-performance biometric readers and mobile credential technology at Security Essen 2018. At Suprema, our commitment is focused to meet stringent requirement from enterprise-level security systems, provide best available credential technology and response to growing IoT trends. As a result, we'd like to create an added revenue opportunity for Suprema's global distribution partners and installers in promoting their Suprema portfolio offering," said Hanchul Kim, Sales Director at Suprema. At the show, Suprema will also showcase GDPR-ready access control solution. As an EU provider of biometric access control solution, Suprema has anticipated the regulation by providing key technical features to comply with GDPR and the company will provide full demonstration of its latest GDPR-ready access control solution. Suprema has established direct operations in 3 EU countries - France, Germany and UK - to improve local sales and technical support. According to the IHS Markit 2016 report, the company ranked first in EMEA market share for biometric access control.

Nationwide Building Society has partnered with Traka to provide an intelligent key management system in its branches. The partnership will enhance the Society’s processes in its network, for the benefit of its employees and members. Nationwide has around 18,000 employees and around 650 branches across the UK. Previously branch managers were initially being relied upon to have ensured the management and safety of branch keys throughout the working day, and overnight. This has been a time constraining and manual process, but an essential part of branch security. Traka’s intelligent key management solution has been trialled, originally tested across 21 sites, and systems Key management process Traka’s intelligent key management solution has been trialled, originally tested across 21 sites, and systems now operate across Nationwide’s UK-wide branch network. Richard Newland, Director of Branch & Workplace Transformation at Nationwide said; “There was an opportunity to greatly improve our key management process, to make it easier for our colleagues to manage branch keys.” Seamless installation process “The introduction of Traka key management systems moved us into a more digital management system. Our colleagues no longer need to solely manage keys, and the audit trail capability has helped us to remove the manual paper recording and see the instant status of keys at any one time.” Traka worked closely with Nationwide to understand bespoke requirements for key management across its branch network, ensuring a seamless installation process under a tight timeframe for delivery. Once installed, Traka worked closely with individual branches to ensure staff had full training in the use of key management systems and access control solutions for authorised personnel. In Nationwide’s case, Traka has made a significant difference from an operational perspective Accurate audit trail Tom Smith, Traka Market Development Manager added: “What our relationship with Nationwide demonstrates is our preferred approach to working with clients, in true partnership. Our aim is to understand bespoke requirements for key management and ensure our systems can accommodate, without compromising on ease of use for staff.” “In Nationwide’s case, Traka has made a significant difference from an operational perspective. The main resolution being staff no longer need to solely manage keys, and instead, they can focus on servicing members needs more efficiently. Nationwide has total peace of mind they have a secure and accurate audit trail of all keys, across every branch in its network.”

Vicon Industries, Inc, designer and manufacturer of video surveillance and access control software, hardware and components, announces that its SN673V-B Cruiser PTZ Camera with 20X optical zoom and 1080p HD video has been deployed in Charleston Harbor, South Carolina, as part of the Coastal Conservation League’s novel project, ‘The Pelicam.’ The Pelicam is a weather-resistant Vicon camera, mounted on a pole along with solar panels, battery back-up and a wireless transmission system, on an isolated strip of land within the harbor. Wray Lemke, Founder and Vice President of electronic and security services company Mount Pleasant Radio, volunteered his time to bring this project to fruition. Conservation league The Pelicam’s location is a popular spot for pelicans and other shore birds to build nests and raise their young because it is inaccessible to raccoons, coyotes and other natural predators. The Vicon camera’s 20X optical zoom provides close-up video of the birds, allowing biologist from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the public to witness behaviours that would not normally be observable by humans. Conservation League makes use of the camera’s presets to quickly change between scenes, live-streaming on YouTube video of the most interesting wildlife The Conservation League makes use of the camera’s presets to quickly change between scenes, live-streaming on YouTube video of the most interesting wildlife on display at any given time. Video recorded to the camera’s local SD card is available for DNR biologists to review and study. Andy Hollis, Data and GIS Analyst for the Conservation League, says, “The quality of the new camera is great. It pans and zooms exactly as it should and its high magnification gets us in really close.” Building public awareness In addition to supporting the research needs of the DNR, the Pelicam is hugely popular within the community, garnering regular coverage in the local media and receiving more web traffic than any other page within the organisation’s website. Mr. Hollis explains, “As an advocacy organization working with local and state level government to enact programs and laws to support conservation, the Pelicam is one of the most highly effective tools we have for building public awareness and enthusiasm for our mission.”

Boon Edam Inc., a provider of security entrances and architectural revolving doors, announces that RagingWire Data Centers has installed Boon Edam’s Tourlock 180+90 security revolving doors as part of its integrated access systems that protect their data centers in Ashburn, Va. and Sacramento, Calif. Founded in 2000, RagingWire was one of the first companies that helped to build the multi-billion dollar global data center colocation industry. Now, RagingWire is the North American data center platform within the portfolio of NTT Communications, which operates 140 data centers in 20 countries worldwide, making RagingWire one of the largest and most financially solid data center companies in the world. Demanding hyperscale cloud RagingWire is recognised as an industry leader in data center security and overall customer experience" RagingWire uses Tourlock security revolving doors at its Ashburn VA3 Data Center, which features 245,000 square feet of space and 16 megawatts of critical power, and its Sacramento CA3 Data Center, which is a 180,000 square foot facility with 14 megawatts of critical power. VA3 and CA3 are part of RagingWire’s portfolio of data centers in Ashburn, Northern California and Dallas, Texas. “As the colocation data center of choice for some of the most demanding hyperscale cloud and enterprise companies, RagingWire is recognised as an industry leader in data center security and overall customer experience,” said Mark Borto, CEO of Boon Edam Inc. “We are proud to provide an important part of RagingWire’s sophisticated, multi-layer, integrated security system.”  Provide efficient passage Boon Edam’s security revolving doors provide efficient passage for hundreds of people daily at RagingWire’s data centers. The doors prevent piggybacking and tailgating during both entry and exit by using a combination of sensors to recognise shapes, size and volume in three dimensions, and then stopping the door when a violation occurs. Our customers expect our security entrances and anti-tailgating technologies to be extremely fast and accurate"The state-of-the-art system also generates an accurate picture of exactly who is in the building at all times. “Our customers expect our security entrances and anti-tailgating technologies to be extremely fast and accurate,” said Eddie Ankers, Director of Corporate Security at RagingWire. Analyse suspicious behavior “By adding these doors to our defense-in-depth security strategy, we are providing the best possible protection system for our customers’ mission critical equipment.” In addition to Boon Edam’s Tourlock security revolving doors, RagingWire’s layered security approach features highly trained, 24x7 security staff, biometric scanners, badge readers, intelligent high-definition video cameras that analyse suspicious behavior, anti-tailgate mantraps, a building-within-a-building design, anti-climb perimeter fencing, concrete bollards in front of building entryways, and an anti-ram security gate.

Every summer, teams from around the world gather in South Williamsport, Pa., for one of baseball’s great classics – the annual Little League Baseball World Series. And for the 20th consecutive year, Lenel provides systems and services to help keep the iconic youth baseball event safe and secure for players, coaches, officials and fans. Lenel is part of UTC Climate, Controls & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. Teams from eight international and eight U.S. regions will play in the 10-day tournament, which begins today and ends with the championship game on Aug. 26. Samantha Mahaffey, security manager for Little League International, recognized Lenel’s continued dedication to the annual event for players ages 10 to 12. World-class security technology “We’ve long been able to count on Lenel to provide its world-class security technology to help us make sure these games are safe and secure for all our players, families, and fans,” she said. “It’s been great to work with Lenel over the years and embrace the changes and growth of the Little League Baseball World Series.” Jeff Stanek, general manager, Lenel, said helping to protect the Little League Baseball World Series is an honour for the company and its employees. “Little League and youth baseball are wonderful traditions bringing together young players and fans of all ages from countries around the globe,” he said. “We’re proud to be a part of this annual rite-of-summer event for 20 years, providing our technology and expertise to help make it the fun and safe event it should be.” OnGuard system is integrated with the complex’s video surveillance system and is used to verify people entering restricted areas Authenticate identification The heart of the security system is Lenel’s OnGuard access control platform. Each Little League player is enrolled in the system and receives a photo identification badge that’s worn to provide access to playing fields and to dining and dormitory facilities. Cards are also issued for all coaches, officials, staff and vendors. Each card limits access to only specific pre-determined areas throughout the complex. The OnGuard system is integrated with the complex’s video surveillance system and is used to verify people entering restricted areas. When someone presents a badge at one of the access card readers, live video and the cardholder’s photo are displayed on a nearby monitor, allowing a guard to authenticate the identification. Powerful analytic capabilities The OnGuard integrated security system has powerful analytic capabilities that can also help locate lost children, identify sick or injured people needing assistance and lost or suspicious articles that might pose a threat. The analytics can also help identify vehicles in restricted areas or other out-of-the-ordinary activities. Interlogix, Lenel’s sister company, is providing its UltraSync system to provide intrusion monitoring of the complex’s onsite police station.

Videx Security, the provider of access control and door entry solutions, was recently chosen to provide a replacement door entry system for Berkeley Lodge, a privately-owned apartment block in Ashtead in Surrey that consists of 9 flats.  Built in the late 1990s, the existing door entry system at Berkeley Lodge was aging and the system had poor speech quality and a lot of interference and crackling on the line. Installer Olympic Security Systems advised that repairing the existing system would probably not address all the issues and that they therefore recommended that a new, modern door entry solution should be installed using the same infrastructure and wiring. Videx 4000 modular panel The 3000 series handsets were marginally larger than our existing handsets and therefore could be fitted without any decoration issues" Martin Sturmey, who lives in one of the flats and is responsible for the block’s day-to-day management, said: "After a bit of research, we decided that the best option was to install a new system and reviewed a range of solutions from various manufacturers. We decided to go with the Videx 4000 panel with 3000 series audio handsets. It was clearly the best system for meeting all our access control requirements. For example, the modular nature of the 4000 series enabled us to have just the 9 buttons that we needed. It could also be flush fitted and, importantly, it looked very clean, smart and fitted in with its surrounding environment." He added, "The 3000 series handsets were marginally larger than our existing handsets and therefore could be fitted without any decoration issues. They also looked very good and allowed each resident to set the call tone volume, a useful feature that we didn’t have with our existing handsets. What’s more, the system could be fitted using the existing wiring which was a major plus point of the project." Meeting access control needs Olympic Security Systems supplied, installed and commissioned the new system. The installation went very smoothly, with the entire system installed and up and running on the same day. As no new wiring needed to be done, the installer simply had to carry out a straight forward system replacement, meaning downtime was minimal. Ben Davies, South East Sales Manager at Videx, said: "Our 4000 series audio and video entry panel systems are hugely popular because they can meet a wide range of access control needs. The system can be customised for any application range, from smaller installations such as residential and private housing applications like Berkeley Lodge, to large installations including local authority and housing association properties." The residents really like the new system and have commented on the attractive design of the panel and the handsets" Designed with end user in mind The 4000 series carries a number of features that makes the door entry system a lot easier to use, helping manage access control better. For example, the backlit keypad and graphical LCD display, voice annunciation, call progress for up to 998 apartments and 2800 proximity fobs/cards, are all designed with the end user in mind. Martin Sturmey added: "The residents really like the new system and have commented on the attractive design of the panel and the handsets as well as the excellent quality of speech. Although we opted for a fairly simple audio system, the fact that Videx offered many more advanced facilities as part of the 4000 series gave us confidence that the system would work well. We would definitely recommend Videx kit for anyone looking to replace an existing door entry system."

It began with a desire to help students fit in. Officials in Maine School Administrative District (MSAD) 58 introduced uniform bar-coded plastic ID cards to replace their existing colour-coded punch cards so that students eligible for free lunches would not easily be identified by their friends. “In the past, students used punch cards to buy their lunches,” said Angel Allen, Technology Director for both MSAD 58 and neighboring district, MSAD 9. “The different colors identified their economic status for other students to see. It was not a good thing.” Some students chose not to eat rather than be embarrassed by the color of their card. The issue is a significant one. Between 40 and 60 percent of students in MSAD 58 qualify for a reduced lunch program, according to Allen. The district, which sits in a rural area of Franklin County, Maine, covers 500 square miles and serves 1,000 students through five schools. Using ID cards was not new to the Maine school administrators. Sister district, MSAD 9, had been using ID cards as visual identity for its staff for a long time, according to Allen, but “the old system was a beast.” Direct-to-Card Printer/Encoder MSAD 58 began using ID cards printed on a new Fargo DTC300 Direct-to-Card Printer/Encoder for the hot lunch program in the fall of 2005, with the lunch director printing the cards. A second printer was purchased in 2006 and is operating out of the superintendent’s office to create staff ID and lunch cards. MSAD 58 continues to expand its use of ID cards: It created a debit system in which parents can apply money to the card so their children can charge against it rather than carrying money to school. ID cards without photos are used for substitute teachers, volunteers and parents who enter the schools. Students and faculty can check out library materials using their ID cards. Students without drivers’ licenses have even used their school ID cards for identification on school trips. In 2006, thanks to her experience in MSAD 58, Allen added a Fargo DTC400 printer to MSAD 9 Building access solutions “We also use the ID cards as medical emergency cards,” said Allen. “They are particularly useful on field trips to identify students with allergies, diabetes or asthma and to provide emergency contact numbers.” In 2006, thanks to her experience in MSAD 58, Allen added a Fargo DTC400 printer to MSAD 9. The district is printing RFID cards for staff ID and building access. There is also a DTC300 for the student lunch program. “My experience in MSAD 58 introduced me to Fargo,” said Allen. MSAD 9 includes nine schools and serves 2,500 students. Here, the ability to print on two sides of a card was important, as administrators wanted a bar code on the back to work with the district’s time card system and door access program. In addition, the district is initiating a new lunch program, and a library program is in the works. Software integration “In MSAD 58, we began printing small, key chain ID cards from perforated card stock,” said Allen. “Each includes the student’s name and a bar code. Being able to carry their ID card on a key chain helps prevent students from losing their cards.” Nevertheless, a $1 replacement fee is charged each lost card, although the fee was never meant to build revenue. “It’s just enough to aggravate the students,” Allen said. TAll students carry the same plastic ID card. Information on their lunch status is contained in a bar code on the back of the card. “Now, everyone has the same card,” said Allen. “The bar code number is scanned into the cafeteria software, and only the computer can distinguish who is eligible for a reduced lunch from those who are not.” Fargo printers are well known for their ability to print bar codes with the level of clarity to be read by scanners Student ID cards “The big thing with schools is technology,” said Jennifer Clancy, ID Wholesaler Marketing Manager (www.idwholesaler.com), who sold Allen the printers. “In Angel’s case, she is creating a system where the student ID is a stored-value card for the lunch program using a bar code. Fargo printers are well known for their ability to print bar codes with the level of clarity to be read by scanners. Schools nationwide are instituting policies where a visible ID is required of students, faculty and staff at all times. With a visible ID, there is no excuse for a person to be somewhere he or she is not supposed to be. Individuals can be better identified and dealt with by the existing school protocols.” Requirements for the ID cards differ between high school and elementary school students. High school students are required to carry their ID cards at all times. In the elementary schools, students grab their ID cards from a rack on the wall outside the lunch room each day before lunch. Cards are scanned by the cashier and put back in a basket, so someone can replace them in the rack after lunch. “Younger kids can’t be responsible for remembering to bring their card every day,” Allen said. School security system Employees, especially those with multi-school assignments, such as administrators, supervisors, plant operations, maintenance, food service and transportation personnel are required to display their identification card at all times when performing duties for the school system. “Schools that have a student photo ID program in place are starting to expand the use of the cards to applications such as library checkout, lunch program management, equipment checkout, access to computers, student activity passes and bus access,” said Clancy. “More advanced schools are moving to cashless vending, lunchroom use or activity attendance.” Allen, who is responsible for the technology in both MSAD 58 and MSAD 9, envisions expansion of the ID card program, especially the RFID technology component for access control. “We try things in one place and then take them beyond,” she said. “That’s the cooperative nature of our districts.” But for now, simply using ID cards to help students fit in during lunch is a huge step forward.