HC welcomes new Entrance-way Monitor Charles McDavid

On Friday, while the vast majority of HC students were absent, it was Charles McDavid’s first day in his new position as entrance-way Monitor.

“Please help me welcome Mr. Charles McDavid to the Blue Devils family,” HC Principal Paul Little said in an email sent out on Friday, “and do not be offended when you are asked for identification and purpose for visiting when you enter the building.”

McDavid said that he has only seen positive responses to his presence.

“Everything I’ve seen has been positive,” McDavid said, sitting behind his desk with a plant set to the side. A student gave him the plant to welcome him into his new station.

After so long at HC, it hasn’t been hard for him to transition into his new role.

“It’s been a little different,” McDavid said. “Since I’ve been here so much, it really hasn’t been that much of a transition for me. I miss being with all the kids, but I see most of them anyway.”

He says that he has had more opportunities to talk to teachers while still maintaining his relationship with students.

“I get to meet new people every day and see more teachers than I’ve ever seen before,” McDavid said, “so, yeah, I enjoy [this position].”

Before, visitors were met with an empty foyer and no indication of where to go. Now, McDavid is there to greet them and point them in the right direction.

“As people come in the door, I greet them and ask them where they need to go,” McDavid said. “If they’re going to attendance, I send them to attendance. If they need to drop something off in the office, I send them into the office. If they’re visiting [someone], they register here and go from there.”

McDavid expressed that his position was created at least partially as a result of what happened on Thursday, the day when a student was found at school with a gun, resulting in panic among the HC community.

“[The position was created] basically because of security reasons from what happened on Thursday,” McDavid said. “I actually asked before that time to do this.”

He agrees that it is a safety improvement and says that parents seem to agree.

“I think it is [a safety improvement] and I think the parents that come in are pretty thankful that somebody’s here.” McDavid said.

The fact that he could become a full-time employee while still maintaining his relationship with the school community influenced to accept the offer to be HC’s entrance-way Monitor.

McDavid said that “[his reasons were] just the fact that it’s full time and I get to meet everybody as they come in.”

McDavid said that he “appreciate[s] being here” and, from how the HC community has responded, they seem to appreciate him being here, too.