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SAD 75 Installs Security Cameras at Mt. Ararat High By Darcie Moore 12/29/05 |
This article focuses on the benefits of installing
CCTV Video Surveillance Systems in schools to keep students and teachers safe, while combating vandalism.
TOPSHAM — School Administrative District 75 recently received a grant that allowed it to install a
security camera system at Mt. Ararat High School.
In September, the U. S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announced $14.7 million in grants to 187 local law enforcement agencies to enhance school safety in 43 states. Grants were awarded as part of the Secure Our Schools program to support local efforts to improve security at schools and on school grounds. The Topsham Police Department received $12,500 through the program for the security measures.
Superintendent J. Michael Wilhelm said Mt. Ararat now has a $20,000
CCTV Video Surveillance System placed in public areas the school has monitored with a staff that is stretched too thin to be as effective as the cameras.
"The high school was built during an era when school security was not as high a design priority as it is today," Wilhelm said. "The school's original open classroom design makes it difficult to lock anything down," he said.
The open design poses a security challenge in the evening when events such adult education classes are happening at a time when there are very few staff members to oversee the building.
The school department paid $7,000 for the
surveillance system — the rest was federally funded. But in the long run it should save the district money in vandalism and theft costs, Wilhelm said.
CCTV Cameras are positioned to view hallways, doorways and also areas outside the school, such as the parking lot. Wilhelm said the system is not invasive.
Source: timesrecord.com
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