Staring back at Officer Tommy Wooten, through the security camera monitors were four students skipping class, making faces, and flashing gang signs. Har-Ber’s student resource officer received his computer monitoring system Dec. 7. Cameras were installed and ready for use by Aug. 2010.
According to Officer Wooten, these students were the first to be viewed on the new monitoring system.
“I can now be the eyes of the school,” said Officer Wooten. “I can see any hallway, any entrance, any part of the building and see what is going on.”
Har-Ber was one of the last schools in the district to install a surveillance system, although there were isolated areas throughout the building.
“Because of the way society is now, cameras are a necessary,” said principal Danny Brackett. “It is a preventative measure of physical, emotional, and mental safety.”
Central Junior High has had a camera system in place for ten years monitoring student activity throughout the halls and outside of the building.
“The camera system has a memory storage that allows us to go back in the time and replay any incident that may have occurred inside or outside the school,” said Central Junior High principal, Kelly Koons.
Cameras are also in place at Southwest Junior High where footage is viewed in light of any incident that may occur, but also as a behavioral deterrent.
“Cameras are used for evidence and to help obtain the truth,” said Southwest Junior High School student resource officer Brian Treat. “People knowing the cameras in the building prevents a lot of mischief from happening.”
According to Dr. Brackett, Har-Ber has not experienced any instances this year where the cameras would have been needed. Had that been the case, all camera activity would have to be viewed downtown at the office of the Springdale School Board Administration. With the installation of the monitors, activity can now be viewed at the school which will increase safety.
“Now if there is an intruder in the building, I will be able to pinpoint the location and take care of it before the situation becomes threatening,” said Officer Wooten.
The camera’s main focus will be using them as a deterrent for mischievous activity. They will also provide accountability for students.
“Cameras do not lie,” said Dr. Brackett. “Accountability is something students understand. Cameras help enforce that.”
While the cameras will not be constantly monitored, they will be constantly recorded and available for playback at any time.
“At anytime I can log into the system and see anything that happened,” said Officer Wooten.
The security cameras will provide both prevention as well as a way to solve mysteries, but according to Dr. Brackett, that is not what constitutes real safety.
“The greatest tool for creating a school environment that ensures safety is to build relationships that encourage good behavior,” said Dr. Brackett. “Our greatest safety measure is for students to feel a sense of ownership and pride in their school.”