Rio Americano will pilot a new tardy system for students arriving late to their first period beginning in the fourth quarter of the semester.

Students will swipe their ID cards at scanners located near the attendance office. The system will automatically assign a detention for students with multiple tardies and send an automated email to their family.

The new method is designed to limit missed class time because of the long lines at the attendance office each morning. It will also reduce the attendance secretaries’ workload.

Changes to the system used in later class periods and for restroom passes may be phased in next year.

English teacher Amanda Baer previously taught at Galt High School, which used a similar system including for bathroom passes.

“Right now, the attendance office is writing all these passes by hand,” Baer said. “I think the idea is instead of waiting in line for a pass, you just pop in, scan your ID.”

Baer said the comprehensive system worked well at Galt because it streamlined the process and allowed the school to gain greater insights on student tardies.

The electronic system also limited the number of bathroom passes and prevented students from using a pass when a student they had been in trouble with was also out of class.