Schools security system fight suffers blow

Prince William County Public Schools’ fight to keep the identity of its visitors secret just suffered a severe blow.

Under its Visitor Identification System, which the division installed in all schools a few years ago, visitors’ identification cards are electronically scanned for possible matches to the sex offender registry.

A recent bill sponsored by Del. Rich Anderson, R-Woodbridge would have protected software programs, data, or other records relating to electronic or automated security systems used to monitor or control access to public school buildings or other school property from Freedom of Information Act requests.

The bill was submitted on Jan. 13 but was left in the General Laws committee on Tuesday.

The reason for the bill submission was related in large part to one man’s fight to obtain visitor information from the school division. The battle started in December of 2007 when Woodbridge resident Mark Hjelm sent a FOIA request to the schools requesting all visitor identification at Woodbridge, Freedom and Gar-Field High Schools collected by the system during the first week of the month.

Hjelm also requested a copy of the contract with Raptor, the company responsible for the software. He claims that the system is not an effective tool for protecting students from potential harm-doers.
His requests were denied by the schools with the school attorney citing exemptions in FOIA law. After the denial, he requested the schools send him a copy of all attorney’s fees relating to his previous FOIA request.

The district again denied him with its legal representation stating that it wouldn’t be able to separate its fees due to its “block” billing.

After two unsuccessful requests in the last year, Hjelm recently filed a third request, seeking copies of or an opportunity to inspect the information he has requested. He is also asking for the schools to pay his legal fees and court costs -- upwards of $15,000 -- and for the court to impose a civil penalty on school superintendent Steven Walts.

The hearing for the writ of mandamus is scheduled for Tuesday.

Schools attorney Mary McGowan of Blankenship & Keith said the schools hope the most recent mandamus requests case gets thrown out, as well.

“The administrative and financial resources that the district has been forced to spend is significant,” McGowan said. “It’s really unfortunate that money can’t be used for educational purposes.”

According to schools spokesman Keith Imon, there have been 14 individuals on the sex offender list cited by the Raptor system since its inception in 2007, including three this school year that were considered violent.

Non-violent offenders are legally allowed on school property but must be in the company of a staff member at all times. Violent offenders are only allowed per court order.

The program cost $129,062 to install in all of the county’s schools, according to Imon. The data base fee and visitor badge cost total $47,348 a year.

Staff writer Kipp Hanley can be reached at 703-878-8062.