Identification badges issued to all Cincinnati Public Schools’ employees must be worn while at work, as part of the district’s efforts to keep staff and students safe.

Superintendent Alton Frailey issued a directive April 23, 2003, saying ID badges must be worn, reinstating a district practice that had not been widely followed in recent years. Too many badges have ended up lost or hidden away in purses and cars, and it is no longer common to see employees wearing badges.

"In an ongoing attempt to make every facility as secure as possible, we are going to enforce the wearing of identification badges by all CPS personnel. The badges must be worn so that they can be seen at all times."

Alton Frailey
Superintendent

With about 7,019 CPS employees, it is important that both students and staff can quickly and easily identify district personnel, said Harry Frisby, CPS' supervisor of security.

"We can’t know everyone," Frisby said. "The badge identifies you as an employee of Cincinnati Public Schools. Wearing the badges will heighten, and help ensure, the safety of our buildings."

During May, 2003, Frisby’s staff created close to 1,000 badges, mostly for Central Office staff. With most of the district’s 7,000 employees assigned to schools, it will be easier to bring the badge-making equipment to each school and make badges for an entire staff in one stop, Frisby said.

The badge-making equipment is expected to arrive over the summer, and, starting in late August, 2003, schedules will be set up to go to each school to take staff photographs and make badges, Frisby said.

Meanwhile, Central Office employees (Education Center and Iowa Avenue building) will be required to wear staff ID badges while at work, Frisby said. Principals and assistant principals also are asked to begin wearing an ID badge now, Frisby said.

The blue-and-white badges will be clipped onto clothing or displayed around the neck.