LBSS Principal Seeks Support for Security Cameras
The deadline for comments is Friday, June 15, 2012.
Lake Braddock Secondary School Principal Dave Thomas is seeking input from parents, faculty, students and community members regarding a proposal to install interior security cameras at the school.
"Providing a safe and secure environment for our students to learn and grow is a main priority of our staff at Lake Braddock," Thomas wrote in a letter on the school's website. "The proposal calls for installing about 20 interior cameras, which will be placed in the school’s 'hot spots,' such as the main halls, the cafeteria and locker bays," said Thomas. "These cameras would be in addition to the exterior security cameras already in place."
The discussion began after the Fairfax County School Board approved a new video surveillance policy in December 2011. The Board requires schools considering interior cameras to communicate to their communities about plans, gauge support and report back to the cluster supervisor.
Thomas reported the installation of interior cameras at Lake Braddock would cost the school nearly $74,000, with the school board paying $8,000. No appropriated funds would be used for the project. "We will pay for the cameras using local administrative and technology accounts and accumulated community use credits," said PTSA President Judy Dioquino in Bruin Voices.
"This cost, of course, is a rough estimate, but we expect that amount to be within 10 - 20 percent of the actual cost," Thomas wrote. "We expect that there will be adjustments to lower the final estimate, due to pre-existing wiring from our exterior cameras. A final estimate will be requested from the vendor once permission is granted to move forward."
Comments are due by Friday, June 15, and may be submitted by email to Principal Thomas at dfthomas@fcps.edu
"On Monday, June 18, all of the input that has been collected throughout this year will be collated and, if there is sufficient support, I will request permission from the Superintendent to move forward on installation," said Thomas. "They would be installed in August and be operating by the time school starts in September," he said.
Cheri Reidy
1:47 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Your headline says "LBSS Principal Seeks Support for Security Cameras." Principal Thomas is seeking input from parents about the cameras, as stated in your first paragraph. He is not necessarily seeking support. The headline is misleading and should be changed.
Susan Larson
4:01 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
Thank you, Cheri. Principal Thomas is recommending the cameras and will be able to proceed if the community supports his recommendation.
Dale Hruby, Sr.
11:41 pm on Monday, June 11, 2012
While there are those who would oppose this as "Big Brother is Watching," it is really a practical and highly useful application of technology to provide our children with an envelope of safety and security. Ideally we are developing our children who want to live their lives and behave always as if they were being watched by their community -- in other words living by the "Sunshine Rule."
janet otersen
10:44 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
All of this groupthink among principals in FCPS is really starting to trouble me. They all agree on surveillance cameras, they all agree on parent notification. What a dysfunctional organization we must have when there is no differing opinions among the ranks on such important matters.
Judy Dioquino
7:51 am on Tuesday, June 19, 2012
As this new ruling states, principals are given the latitude to instal cameras if they so desire. This will be taken in consideration by FCPS on a school by school basis. Principals will need to fund this undertaking outside of the $8000 per school given by the county. As far as parent notification, there is still quite a bit of conversation going on between FCPS, School Board members and the Fairfax County community. Due to all of the deliberations, a comittee is being formed to look into the practicality of such a measure. The results will be announce in March. At that point in time, the School Board will vote on the language of such a proposal. As you can see, we have plenty of differing opinions which does enhance the functionality of FCPS, making it one of the top ranked school systems in the country.