From Inefficiency to Innovation: Redefining Student Movement at Danbury High
Discover how Danbury High School transformed student movement with Minga’s digital tools — by replacing outdated processes with modern practices that enhance efficiency and campus life.
About Danbury High School
Students
3,500+
Grades
9-12
The Challenge
Admin Obstacles: Held Back by Inefficient Paper-Based Systems
Danbury High faced various challenges with its outdated administrative practices. Managing attendance and tardiness manually was a hassle, and paper hall passes made it too easy for students to wander off or hang out in bathrooms unnoticed. It was tough for administrators and teachers to know where students were when they should have been in class.
Danbury’s old processes also involved manually identifying tardy and absent students through a Google sheet, which proved to be time-consuming and prone to error. So the school was actively seeking improved systems to better monitor, manage, and encourage student behavior — with an overall goal to increase student accountability.
KEY PROBLEM AREAS:
“
The biggest joke was that we had a giant, inflatable, turtle pool float that was being used as a hall pass. So for students to use the bathroom, they would have to grab that turtle — that was half the size of me, and I’m a big boy — then go into the bathroom and put that thing on the bathroom floor. Then, bring it back to class, and pass it on to the next person. It was so unsanitary”.
The Solution
Automating Success: Digital Tools That Redefine Campus Management
Seeking ways to improve operational processes, Danbury High administrators visited a school in Nebraska and discovered Minga. The software offered essentials such as digital IDs and digital hall passes, but also addressed many other facets of campus operations, all under one roof. Minga was a no-brainer, as it stood out for its affordability and reputation for excellent customer support. The platform has since become an integral part of Danbury High that ensures smooth campus management — all day, every day.
Straight off the bat, Minga’s digital ID scanning and check in features have streamlined daily attendance. In addition, by switching from paper to digital hall passes — that can be shown on a cell phone or seen on a teacher’s dashboard — students can now easily prove that they indeed have permission to be out of class. This shift to digital solutions has eliminated the need for physical IDs and paper passes, modernizing outdated practices and enhancing administrative efficiency.
The Behavior module, with so many robust automation features, allows the school to take their admin to the next level. Automated detentions now streamline behavior management, enabling immediate feedback and instilling restorative practices. Danbury also pairs Minga’s tardy automation with its “Missed Out!” initiative — effectively creating a culture of punctuality on campus. The success of the Behavior module for discipline has led the school to explore its use for more positive reinforcement. Danbury is now experimenting with challenges, polls, and a points system to reward and celebrate positive student conduct.
What Minga Offered:
“
The automation piece is crucial to success. That’s part of the reason why Minga is so valuable.”
The Outcomes
Operational Excellence and an Uplifted Campus Experience
Relief From the Weight of Admin Tasks
Minga has streamlined day-to-day tasks, freeing staff from outdated processes and consolidating attendance, tardiness, behavior, and hall pass management into one simple platform.
Students Moving With Purpose
Danbury has reduced hallway traffic and aimless wandering, with live countdown timers being an effective tool to promote accountability and get kids back to class promptly.
Reduced Tardiness and a Culture of Punctuality
Automated consequences (such as 4 tardies automatically leading to a 2-hour detention) have gotten students to be more punctual to class — maximizing precious instructional time.
Clear Data has Strengthened Relationships With Parents
No more “he said, she said”! The school’s clear data on student punctuality and hall pass usage, along with automated parent notifications, have led to less subjective discussions with parents.
A Boost in School Spirit and Campus Culture
The Minga home screen now serves as a personalized space for students to connect and express themselves. Polls and challenges, such as the “Spirit Day Selfie,” have also helped to strengthen the community and boost morale.
Leveraging Technology for Operational Excellence
As Danbury High grows more proficient with Minga, they are exploring its advanced features to further refine their processes. The admin team is already testing out new functionalities, which will help make everyday tasks even more efficient.
Are You Ready to Revolutionize Your Admin Processes?
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