Almost 2,000 security cameras deployed at middle schools
NISD Communications Department
July 18, 2008
Just in time for the new school year, NISD middle schools will be equipped with a fully integrated security system, thanks to the voter approved School Bond 2007. All high schools are already equipped with the security systems and have seen a significant decrease in discipline violations.
With an average of 84 cameras per campus, the system includes 24-hour, real-time surveillance. The Districtwide $12.6 million system includes cameras that are able to digitally-record campus activities monitored on computer screens in the school's office and by the NISD Police Department.
Installation of the systems at all middle schools, except Vale and Jefferson, will be ready on the first day of school. Jones, Ross, Neff, Pease, Rayburn, Jordan, and Luna middle schools were operational for a good portion of last school year. Jefferson and Vale middle schools will be completed by early September.
Within the first few months, students and staff alike are seeing the benefit to these added security measures.
"The security cameras have given us a sense of comfort that we may not have had before," said Pease MS Principal Barry Perez. "They don't take the place of the eyes and ears of teachers who will always be the first line of defense for monitoring and supervision, but what the cameras have done is to give everyone a sense of additional safety and security."
Selina Rosales, an 8th grade student at Pease MS agrees. "I've noticed that since they've been up for a few months, that there hasn't been as much fighting and vandalism," she
said. "The cameras aren't here because we are bad," she adds. "They are just an additional way to keep us safe."
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