The office has implemented a new sign-in format for the 2017-18 school year. The new format utilizes an iPad system to track student sign-ins. The counselors and administrators will be able to see a list of students waiting to see them when students submit their names on the iPad. The counselors can then call students in whenever they become available.

“If a counselor is out for the day, or in meetings, they are able to remove themselves from the list,” office registrar Kimberly Randall said.

Based on the time a student signs in, they will be placed on the list. Counselors will then call students in based on their placement on the list.

“They can call people in order or out of order,” Randall said.

The list takes into account the severity of the issue and the amount of time a counselor would have to spend with the student. The list will then allow for the prioritization of more minor issues; students who may only need a signature may be able to avoid longer wait times. Additionally, the iPad-based list allows the office to save paper that would have been used with the old system.

“We are getting into a greener method of tracking student’s visits to the counselor,” Randall said.

According to Randall, the new system makes daily processes easier for the people in the office. The counselors don’t have to physically call in students, reducing wasted time and hassle.

Despite the conveniences the new system provides, there have been multiple glitches hampering the efficiency of the system. The office initially had problems with the lack of a notification indicator upon sign in, as well as a lack of a last name input function, which led to confusion among students with the same first name.

“We would see that Jack was here to see someone but we don’t know Jack who? So when the counselors go back to put in their notes, they were struggling to know who Jack is, but that is a glitch we got fixed so now you have to put in your last name,” Randall said.

Besides fixing the glitches, the school is looking into adding a function where students would be able to add a note to tell the counselor a reason for their visit through the iPad.

“At this time we don’t have notes, but we are trying to make that happen so that students could put reasons for their visits,” Randall said.

According to Randall, the new system has proven to be a huge help within the office.

“It has had a really big impact for those of us in the front office area. It is getting a lot easier to get students in to see their counselor,” Randall said.