Closing the Circut: School Security Cameras Update Nearly Complete

The circuit is closing on a two-year plan to increase security camera use at all town school buildings. Cameras were installed at all elementary schools this summer. This month, new cameras go online at Adams Middle School.

Schools Facilities Director Clifford Gurnham said the security cameras add another layer to the town's safety measures at all schools, such as the controlled entry system installed last year.

"This is a multi-phase piece, along with the door access installations," said Gurnham. "We've been doing it slowly over the past year, installing [cameras] at all seven schools."

Some buildings, such as Guilford High School, already had security cameras in place and this plan increased that number, said Gurnham. He added the security upgrade didn't arise based on a record of incidents, but rather due to a routine need to upgrade technology, combined with an opportunity created by a state grant awarded in February 2008.

"We applied for a grant and received $12,300 from the state to put toward the overall project," he said.

The total investment of approximately $100,000 was planned out in two phases and paid through the school budget as a capital expense. The installation at Adams will be assisted by funds delivered via voter-approved "immediate needs" bonding last year.

The cameras are sometimes easy to spot and other times less visible. They cover locations inside and outside buildings and feed into a live video monitor at each school and also in Gurnham's office. Recorded views are saved to a hard drive.

"We can swing the exterior cameras to look around outside the building. I can do it remotely from my office and I have done that already," said Gurnham.

The cameras at Guilford High School recently assisted police in identifying youths who entered the building without permission, he added.

"They entered the building and left. We were able to actually identify the kids and [police] met with their parents," said Gurnham.