New ID policy has some concerned

La Mirada~Students attending La Mirada High School beginning this year, will be required to wear an ID around their neck at all times, while on campus.

The lanyards, with a plastic badge holder attached at the end, hang around the students neck to display their ID.

Incoming La Mirada freshmen Julian Hernandez and A.J. Aiello show off their new ID lanyards.

Michelle Millan, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent of the School District told us, " This is a school-based decision.  La Mirada is the only high school out of the four, to implement such a policy at this time".

Ron Carroll, Assistant Principal/Discipline at La Mirada, sat down with us recently, "The ID must be appropriately displayed at all times. This will help us with daily operations. The purpose in having students display their ID is to assist in providing our students with a more safe and secure environment."

When asked what the student's response has been, Carroll replied, "Very positive".

Seniors seem to be having the biggest issue with it, since they have went three years without having to wear something around their neck, and now they have to. A lot of students are expressing dismay, but that is usually the case when there is change.

"This is actually nothing new. We have always had an ID policy in place. Students have always been required to carry their ID's on them", said Carroll.

Some wonder if this is an impossible policy to enforce, fearing the school administration will be spending much of their time dealing with lost and forgotten ID's.

"I have heard those concerns", said Carroll, "but we are confident after a period of time, everyone will settle in. There is a demerit process-that has always been in place-for violators".

Most parents we talked to seemed to be in favor, "Anything that makes my son safer, or give the perception he is safer, is ok by me", said parent Maria Perez.

According to the student handbook, the policy will allow school personnel to easily identify those who should be on campus and those who are unauthorized.

I asked Carroll if there was an issue of not having enough security to handle the huge student population, and this was just a way to make securities job easier. "Absolutely not, the security personnel at La Mirada have always had complete control. This just gives them another tool"

At this time the school is "requesting" that teachers wear the lanyards. The school is looking into union/legal complications of requiring the teachers to wear them.

Carroll did not indicate whether the ID's would be required at after-school events.