Tardiness has been a universal issue across all schools. One way DGS has managed to reduce them, among all of their new policies, has been by using a new tactic: scanning into all classrooms.
The process of scanning into classes was implemented at the very beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. It requires students to use either their mobile phones or their physical student ID cards to scan into and record their attendance for their classes, allowing teachers to relax and step back and let students take it into their own hands.
English teacher Lauren Mietelski shares how implementing scanning has greatly improved attendance due to the accountability it places on students.
“I think there’s more accountability. People are more eager to come to class, to scan, and hear the beep go off,” Mietelski said.
Teachers have also been noticing the rise in attendance since enacting implementation. Students have been coming into the classroom on time, and there are less absences in classes overall. Teacher James Chocole shares his observations.
“The school always needed to have some sort of a system of accountability, and since COVID-19, there was very little accountability … so I think it’s moving in the right direction,” Chocole said.
Tardies since the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in trouble with attendance amongst the student body, especially with their first period classes. Around the time when the bell schedule was moved to 8:20, students had trouble adjusting to it, and tardies were a common occurrence and struggle.
The amount of tardies since implementing scan-in stations across the school has gone down, increasing learning time and overall focus in classes. The new scan in system has been well-received by teachers, holding students accountable for their attendance and encouraging good academic habits along with implementing positive routines among the student body.
