Feb. 9, 2025
By Nicolle Alvarez
Staff Writer
The days of waiting for a teacher’s signature on a paper hall pass will soon come to an end, as LHS prepares to implement the SmartPass digital hall pass system.
Beginning in March, students will use their Chromebooks to access the SmartPass app, or teachers can fill out the digital hall pass from their computers. Once a student submits a request for a pass, they will be notified of a window of time when they are permitted to be out of class.
Vice Principal Ms. Ringen said later this month, students will learn about the new digital hall pass system, which is already being piloted by a group of 18 faculty volunteers.
“I plan on giving a grade-level meeting and walking everybody through it,” Ringen said.
Lyndhurst’s SmartPass subscription is for the high school only and costs $7,500 for the rest of this school year and the entirety of the 2025-2026 school year.
Ringen said the main reason for switching to digital hall passes is to improve security in the building.
“Safety is always my top priority, and SmartPasses let us know where a student is coming from and going to. In case of a drill, we know who the student is and where we can locate them,” Ringen said.
She said when there is a known conflict between students, administrators can program the app so certain combinations of students will not be allowed out of class at the same time.
Ringen said SmartPass has several other features that make it superior to paper passes. For instance, teachers can use it to call students out of other classes, and administrators will have timestamps verifying when students left and returned to class.
“[The technology] gives us a more streamlined overview of what’s happening in the building and provides those analytics, especially when it comes to attendance, tardiness [and potential loss of] credit,” Ringen said. “SmartPasses [also] run themselves, so the teachers won’t be interrupted during instruction.”
Junior Gianna Lembo said she looks forward to SmartPass’ implementation.
“It will improve the process of getting a bathroom or hallway pass since a teacher does not need to stop class and sign a paper pass. The student can just fill out the information and go easily,” Lembo said.
She said SmartPass will also prevent conflicts among students.
“Students will be more mindful of their behavior since there might not be many students out, and teachers can find out exactly what time a student was out of class, so it is not hard to get caught misbehaving,” Lembo said.
Like Lembo, sophomore Nicholas Rizzo said SmartPass will positively impact student safety.
“Now teachers will know where a student is and where they are coming from,” Rizzo said.
Although Rizzo believes SmartPass will make LHS safer, he said paper hall passes are more efficient.
“The SmartPasses will definitely complicate the process of going to the bathroom, and I really appreciate the traditional paper passes. I don’t really know if the change will be necessary,” Rizzo said.
“It will improve the process of getting a bathroom or hallway pass since a teacher does not need to stop class and sign a paper pass.”
Junior Tala Daoud said she disagrees with the decision to switch to SmartPass.
“The change is not necessary. The old system works perfectly fine, and adding a digital system seems like overcomplicating something simple,” Daoud said.
She said she doubts the dependability and efficiency of digital hall passes.
“Relying on technology can create delays or glitches in emergencies. Paper passes are faster and don’t depend on Wi-Fi or devices,” Daoud said.
Based on Ringen’s experiences using SmartPass in Pequannock, where she served as a middle school assistant principal, she said she is confident the digital hall pass system will be effective.
“There will be hiccups, just like with [any] change, but I think once it is in motion, it’ll be ready to roll,” said Ringen.
