Chaos brewed in the main lobby as over 100 students occupied the front of the school, having to wait for upwards of 40 minutes as a part of the new tardy check-in system. Some complained; some snuck past the line; and most were dissatisfied.

On the morning of Dec. 18, any student who came to school late was required to complete a Securly Pass (formerly E-Hallpass). This system was put in place as the latest of many FCPS attempts to encourage regular attendance, including a similar system earlier this school year where every late student had to be checked in individually, but with half the computers available (two instead of four).

“The issue with that is you can’t guarantee that everyone’s going to make it on time,” sophomore Daniel Sherrange said. “[A hundred students] is a very small percent of the school and, if that many people are going to show up late often, it’s just not going to work.”

The procedure of checking in to one’s subschool was replaced by a queue to create a Securly Pass to class, which also applied to late check-ins that were excused. All students arriving late had to enter through the Door 1 vestibule and join a long line that led to computers with Securly Pass open.

“Students who have been called in to their subschool for an excused late arrival will also need to check in through the system to ensure their attendance is accurate,” principal Dr. Amy Goodloe said in an announcement to grade level Schoology classes on Wednesday. “Once checked in, go straight to class.”

Multiple students were heard complaining about long wait times. Some students who joined the line only a few minutes late were released to class over half an hour later.

“I don’t have an issue with [Dr. Goodloe] not wanting people to be late,” Sherrange said. “But the way she’s going about it, it’s not going the right way.”

As of Dec. 20, this system is no longer in use.

“I understand that many students were frustrated that they were significantly late to class,” Dr. Goodloe said. “We are working on adjusting our systems to ensure that students are accounted for and can get to class efficiently.”