Xoxi Munoz

11/6/14
News Story #1
To decrease truancy assistant principal Shay Strobinski has requested to implant tracking
devices into the badges of students. They will also be required to wear at all times on school
campus starting on April 2.
The average skipping rate at our school is at least 35 students skip at least one class each
school day.
I spend a good portion of each day looking for and chasing truant students, Strobinski
said. With the ID tracking system, we can be much more efficient in locating students.
In 2005, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) successfully protested the
introduction of radio frequency tracking ID badges in California. Two different districts in San
Antonio started to use the tracking device ID badges in the fall. Their truancy decreased by 30
percent; therefore, the ACLU failed to receive an injunction to prevent the use of the IDs and
they are recently filing a lawsuit against both districts.
Our children arent pieces of inventory, parent Don Cantrell said. This monitoring of
our children is comparable to the tracking of cattle or very dangerous criminals in high-security
prisons.
The tracking device has a 200-yard range around the school. Therefore; the
administration is not able to locate students anywhere out of the school radius.
How are we violating students rights?, superintendent Patti Mann said.
Some students are for this new policy. Since they dont skip they wont necessarily have
a change in their routine due to the previous policy of having ID badges being worn at all times.
Students are at school to learn, senior and Student Council President Nina Truman
said.
These tracking IDs will cut down on skippers and give the APs time to do their jobs.
The student council voted 121 to 12 to support the new IDs.
However, students that also dont skip or have delincuencial qualities are upset and feel
as if they are being treated as one.
I am a student without a single discipline referral, not a prisoner, said junior Becca
Romero.

Plus, if I want to skip, I would simply take off the badge.

Local businessman Oscar Redman has two children that attend Leaguetown and he favors
the policy so much so he is donating the money needed by the school to support the new ID
badges.
Parents should embrace this new safety measure, said Redman.