Central point for enrollment aimed at easing process for parents

Jessica Breger Special to the Monett Monthly

The Monett school district has officially opened a new welcome center for students and families at its administration building.

The new welcome center is designed to allow new families a place to enroll children of multiple age ranges in one central location, as opposed to enrolling each student at their individual schools.

The district’s two translators will also be located at the welcome center to aid with language barriers. 

The ribbon is being cut on the Welcome Center today (Nov. 5) and operations begin Nov. 6 for students and families to use. 

Welcome Coordinator Raquel Salas said enrollment goes on all year, welcoming new students to the district on a weekly basis, and this will streamline that process both during busy enrollment periods and while classes are in attendance. 

“It’ll help each family so they don’t have to go to each school to enroll each child,” she said. “They’ll be able to do it all at the same time so it’ll be faster. It’s just supporting the community to help them, I think that’s the most important part.”

The Monett School Board announced the ribbon cutting date at its Oct. 16 board meeting where members also discussed other facility and security updates, including the implementation of badges for students.

As presented earlier this year, the school has now started using electronically coded badges to check students on and off of their buses to better monitor student safety. 

In February, the board approved a transportation software contract to install a check-in and tracking system for elementary buses. 

The system will utilize swipeable badges which children would present as they get on and off their bus. 

An app is also now available for parents to track their students along their route. The app is secure and information on each student is only available to the student’s guardian. 

This allows parents to know if there is a delay or change in their student’s bus route immediately. 

In events such as tornadoes or emergency evacuations, this would allow parents and administrators to locate their children’s buses.

This will give an accurate account of children on each bus. The system also utilizes gps tracking and route planning that would aid substitute drivers to navigate routes. 

The systems are to be installed in 10 regular route buses and two 2 reserve buses.