School District Works On A Camera Surveillance Policy

By Tanjua Damon

With cameras on buses and the high school surveillance system up and running, the Newtown school district wants to have a policy in place so that students, staff, and the community understand that the purpose of this technology is to ensure safety and security.

The Board of Education had its first reading of Policy 7-406.1, Camera Surveillance, at its Tuesday night workshop meeting. Board members want the policy to make clear that the camera systems are not designed to invade personal privacy.

The beginning of the policy states, “The Board of Education recognizes the district’s responsibility to maintain order and discipline on school property and in school vehicles as well as to preserve the town’s assets.”

The policy goes on to explain that confidentiality will be kept and that school personnel are not going to be watching the surveillance cameras every minute at the high school and will only view materials if a need arises. It also states that a copy of the policy will be in student handbooks; “cameras on vehicles will be supervised by the district transportation director and the use of equipment on school grounds will be supervised and controlled by the building administrator or responsible administrator.”

“Camera surveillance shall only be used to promote the order, safety, and security of students, staff, and property,” according to the draft. Board member Earl Gordon suggested that visitors be added to the list as well.

“We hope to balance the need to keep our school buildings and the people in it both safe and secure while respecting people’s privacy rights. The policy will delineate how and when the surveillance system is used,” Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff said. “We believe it will reassure people that this system will help keep them safe and not be an intrusion on their privacy. The retroactive retrieval capabilities will be used when an incident has taken place; this is not going to be a ‘Big Brother’ in our schools.”

The board will review the policy at its next three meetings –– March 11, April 1, and April 8 –– with a vote expected on April 8.

In other board business, Dr Pitkoff explained that it is again time for negotiations with the teachers’ union and secretaries. Board members Elaine McClure, Margaret Hull, and Earl Gordon agreed to negotiate the teachers’ pact and Vincent Saviano and Lisa Schwartz will negotiate the secretaries’ contract.

The district is also putting together a search committee for the director of pupil services position, which is being vacated by Robert Chiappetta who is retiring. Board member Margaret Hull agreed to serve on the committee. The position has been advertised with an application deadline of March 17, according to Dr Pitkoff. He hopes to have a recommendation for the board at its April 8 meeting.

“We hope to find a seasoned special education administrator who is well versed in the special education laws and its appropriate implementation, who can successfully write and receive grants, and provide the leadership toward improving an already excellent program,” Dr Pitkoff said.

The board’s next meeting is March 11, at 7:30 pm, in the conference room at Canaan House at Fairfield Hills.