Hollister
– Administrators in both the Hollister School District and San
Benito High School District are in early talks about the
possibility of installing security cameras at local schools.
Hollister – Administrators in both the Hollister School District and San Benito High School District are in early talks about the possibility of installing security cameras at local schools.
A report will be given at tonight’s Hollister School District Board of Trustees meeting on the use of security video monitoring to deter and catch criminal behavior at the schools. The report will be a part of a larger discussion on the current state of maintenance, operations and facilities in the district.
A growing number of schools are installing video cameras in an effort to prevent vandalism and crime in schools. In 2002, 18 percent of public schools had security cameras, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, and this number is expected to have increased since then.
Hollister School District officials said the cameras would be installed primarily to deter acts of vandalism and graffiti at the schools and to identify the responsible parties when it does occur.
“It’s about maintaining the quality of our schools and not letting them get run down,” HSD Chief Business Official Jack Bachofer said.
The school district is still in the very early stages of looking at video surveillance, he said, although the HSD administration has been in talks with other districts and local law enforcement about options for surveillance cameras and how they could most effectively be used.
Erin Jones, a teacher at Sunnyslope School who recently had her classroom vandalized, said she is in favor of using cameras as a security measure. The police have yet to catch the vandals who ransacked Jones’ classroom.
“I think it’s a great resource for our money, especially seeing some of the destruction that’s been caused,” Jones said. “The junior highs are always getting vandalized, and it takes money, time and resources to fix it.”
The exact amount that the district spends on cleaning and fixing the facilities is unknown, Bachofer said. He said vandalism is a continuing expense that is calculated with the rest of the facilities and maintenance.
Although preventing vandalism at the facilities is one of the most discussed reasons for the security cameras, SBHS Superintendent Stan Rose said student safety is another important reason. Like many other schools around the country, he said that they are taking a close look at student safety after the Virginia Tech massacre.
“Last week’s events are just another example why it’s important to look at safety issues,” Rose said. “The overall concept is to help preserve a safe school environment.”
Rose said the high school is still only looking at security cameras as a possible option, and he is well aware the idea will meet with some opposition.
“Before I got here I understood that there were conflicting opinions about whether or not we should have security cameras on campus, but I do think it’s an issue that we have to look at,” he said.
Alice Joy covers education for the Free Lance. She can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 336 or at [email protected].
