School district plans to install more cameras on campuses

The Weiser School District plans to install additional security cameras and update existing cameras and recording equipment at schools at an estimated cost of $90,000 to $100,000.

 Superintendent Wil Overgaard explained the need for updated equipment at the November school board meeting. Three bids were sought from vendors to supply the cameras and equipment and are due by Nov. 30. 

 The school board will consider the bids and decide if the district will move forward with the purchase at the December board meeting.

 The district currently has a few surveillance cameras in each of the school buildings, except for Pioneer Elementary School. Pioneer would receive cameras to monitor the playgrounds and several other locations around the school, officials said.

 Administrators also want to place additional cameras at Park Intermediate School and Weiser Middle School to view areas that are not currently covered. 

 Additional cameras at the high school would provide mobile access and a variety of views for administrators and police both inside and outside the high school. 

 The cameras at schools have been instrumental in helping administrators monitor problems when there are no eyewitnesses and help administrators review incidents to see who was involved and what may have actually happened, Overgaard said.

 Cameras also are needed to monitor student behavior on school buses. Drivers need to be focused on driving safely and often cannot see what problems have occurred behind them until they review a videotape of any incidents, he said.

 There is potentially some state education agency grant funding that could help pay for the cameras and recording equipment. If not, school district officials will use funds in the existing budget and  pull from several sources like the technology fund and/or the Safe and Drug Free School fund, another source of state grant money. 

 In March of this year, Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra announced the Keep Idaho Students Safe initiative. The program has three major components to enhance the safety and security of Idaho’s public schools through prevention, intervention and response strategies. 

 The program will support local school districts in accelerating their building security and student safety efforts through state grants. 

 Options for individual school districts could include assistance with security personnel, training, equipment, software and training, according to the State Department of Education. 

 As part of her public education budget request, she will ask state lawmakers when the Legislature meets in January of 2019 for $19.1 million in supplemental funding for the KISS program for this year. 

 If lawmakers approve the request for KISS funds, grant money for districts to buy cameras and other technology could be available next spring.

 Ybarra’s request for the KISS initiative this year includes $18.5 million in one-time security grants for school districts, $410,000 to develop a safety course for teachers, $200,000 for a statewide safety tip line and $38,900 for a crisis communication counselor to support districts.