This new school year arrived with ID changes in the Ball High policy. GISD has decided to completely get rid of the option of buying a temporary sticker ID, and instead replace it with a five-dollar fine if a student is cursed with a case of forgetfulness.
For example, if a student shows up to school without an ID, they must report to the front window in the attendance office, give their name and id number, then the student will have to go sit in the lecture hall no matter the time, and is not allowed to leave until they have a new ID. Teachers have been told not to let any student in their classroom that does not have an id, and refusal to wear an ID can result in a discipline consequence.
The first week of school I talked with Mrs. Mills, the director, and head of the attendance office, and asked her about this new change to the ID policy. She said the administrative team decided the sticker IDs were too unreliable and faulty, and it was too tiring having to replace sticker IDs throughout the day. Most students would use the excuse “my sticker ID fell off” to not wear/have an ID.
GISD believes the new ID’s will last forever. It’s more practical to have a physical spare ID rather than a sticker that you throw away at the end of the day. Kids who spent up to seven dollars a week buying new sticker IDs vs now (hopefully) only having to buy a five-dollar ID that will last you until the end of the year.
Many students worry that this was a money grab and were quick to judge the choice to get rid of the paper IDs and the four-dollar price change. I mentioned the fact that many students were concerned that this just is a tactic to get money out of them for the extremely expensive new school, but Mrs. Mills assured me, “The main goal is not to make money.” The option to buy a new ID has always been there, and this is nothing new, but instead a better and more resourceful way to keep students safe and identified.
