Security Camera in the Hall

[Heidict]

I wouldn't have an issue with the cameras themselves, but why do so many people need access to it?

Its there for safety, to be reviewed if anything were to happen, not be watched like it's Big Brother by 50 various people. What is the purpose of the board members having access?

 

[sam_gordon]

I would also wonder who else might be in visual range of the computer screen. A Board Member may be cleared and approved but viewing outside of a secure area would be an issue for me. With today's technology, we can view almost anything in a public setting with our cell phones, public WiFi, etc...

Just my 2 cents.

I do. It's like a webcam. School board members could have the feed running in their offices, on their computers, idly... just because they can. It feels like TV. They don't know the students, aren't watching for anything in particular, they just watch. Some of them could get pretty voyeuristic about it.

People come into their offices. Those people have no connection to the school or the students. It feels even more like TV. They comment on the looks and clothing of the people they see on the cam.

Derogatory remarks about students may be passed.
Screenshots of students can be uploaded to Internet, with derogatory comments.

It's one thing to know that there are security cameras that security or office personnel can watch. That's a limited number of people and they know what their responsibilities are.

But when you start giving access to the feed to a whole bunch of people, it's creepy. Stalkers could be watching. Voyeurs could be watching. People who want to know about the school's layout and security systems, so they can come in and shoot up the place, could be watching.

The hall's public space within the school community and kids should behave accordingly in it. But they have a right to expect that the hall is not public like a street, where you never know who's watching you. The feed from a security camera should stay within the school. At a minimum, the school board members should have to sign a statement of confidentiality saying they'll be responsible for making sure outsiders don't see it without a reason.

I'm assuming you guys don't let you kids go out in public then, right? Because heaven forbid a member of the public might see these kids. I'm also guessing you don't let the kids go into any business that has security cameras. After all, you don't know who's watching (or recording) those cameras.

And I think worrying about someone watching the cameras and planning to shoot up the place is going WAY overboard. As disturbing as school shootings have been, has there been ANY cases where a school was picked at random? Didn't the criminals already have ties to the school (and presumably know the layout)?

 

[Hannathy]

I'm assuming you guys don't let you kids go out in public then, right? Because heaven forbid a member of the public might see these kids. I'm also guessing you don't let the kids go into any business that has security cameras. After all, you don't know who's watching (or recording) those cameras.

And I think worrying about someone watching the cameras and planning to shoot up the place is going WAY overboard. As disturbing as school shootings have been, has there been ANY cases where a school was picked at random? Didn't the criminals already have ties to the school (and presumably know the layout)?

And school maps and layouts are hardly secret. Most are on line and if not in every school handbook, orientation materials. Of course those are only given out to a select group of thousands! (every year)

 

[luvsJack]

I wouldn't really be bothered by it, but I think I would want to know WHY the school board members need to see it. There are camaras all over dd's school, the high school she will be going to and we have them here on our campus.

At the school she is in now, the principal and vice principal have access to them. If there is a problem they can go back and watch to see what happened. At the high school, its the principal, vice principal and security and here its the VP office and campus police. On each different campus these are the people in charge of disipline or in keeping peace on the campus and they are the ones that need to be able to view the film.

I just don't see the need for the extra expense to have the software on the school board members' computers.

 

[Wishing on a star]

I have a problem with this....

Why would anyone, from a remote and unsecured location, anywhere, have access to a live feed????

I have NO problem with security cameras, and many other security policies and procedures.

But, IMHO... this crosses some lines.

I see absolutely ZERO need for this...
And a LOT of questionable gray area, motives, etc...

 

[sam_gordon]

I just don't see the need for the extra expense to have the software on the school board members' computers.

There may/may not be a charge. It could be web-based or it might be a "site" license.

 

[sam_gordon]

I have a problem with this....

Why would anyone, from a remote and unsecured location, anywhere, have access to a live feed????

I have NO problem with security cameras, and many other security policies and procedures.

But, IMHO... this crosses some lines.

I see absolutely ZERO need for this...
And a LOT of questionable gray area, motives, etc...

Please explain what line it crosses. Is there an expectation of privacy while at school (granted, in a locker room/bathroom, but a hallway?)

 

[akclayton]

I have no problems with the cameras. I know that they do come in handy.

I don't understand why anyone would need access from a computer that is outside of the school network. That doesn't make any sense to me. If anything needs to be reviewed, it can be reviewed at the school on certain official computer screens.

When I was a senior, I worked in the Main Principals office for my Co-Op job and the computer monitor screen for the cameras was by desk. I could watch if I wanted to. The feed was recorded on a daily basis and I know of times when he principal had to get footage off from a previous day to help him figure out a situation that had happened.

Just recently, a co-workers daughter got put in the alternative program for discipline for hitting a boy in the hallway. They called my co-worker here at work to discuss the incident. His daughter told him on the phone that these 2 boys were teasing her and her friend in the hallway and they kept telling them to stop. One of the boys pulled her hair and bumped her so she turned around and hit him. They boys went to the office to tell on her. So she got in trouble. My co-worker told the principal that he needed to play back the tape to see what happened so if his daughter was right, then the boys should be disciplined as well. They played the tape back and sure enough.. His daughter was right. The boys got disciplined as well. Had it not been for the cameras, that issue would've went unsolved.

My dad is a school board member at our district and I was unaware of how much the board members actually do know about instances that occur within the school. They get weekly reports of all the happenings from the principals. They are very aware of what is going on. This may be different for bigger schools. Our high school senior class is on average around 165.

 

[Hannathy]

Please explain what line it crosses. Is there an expectation of privacy while at school (granted, in a locker room/bathroom, but a hallway?)

I was wondering about that also.

You can be photographed/taped anywhere except areas of expected privacy like bathrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms.

Still don't get the big deal if the school board members can watch the hallways. They could just go and stand there anytime they wanted and watch so what is the difference?

 

[JimShockz]

Accessing the cameras remotely doesn't necessarily mean "from home". The board members and administrators would need to have the software uploaded into their home computers or laptops in order to access the cameras wouldn't they? Perhaps you could address that at the next school board meeting? There really isn't a reason for them to need to watch the hallways at home. From the office, sure.

And I have no problem with the admin or board members having access.

The way I understand it is that one logs on to the school website and there should be a option to view those areas,all is done through the schools server?

-JH

 

[RitaE]

I'm not thrilled with the idea of that many people having access to the images. What purpose is served by that?

Remember that what is being filmed is minor children. The School District has a legal obligation to protect the privacy of the kids, even when they are filmed in illegal acts. The more people with access, the greater the chance the privacy leaks will occur resulting in legal difficulties for the school.

 

[tiggger1]

I was wondering about that also.

You can be photographed/taped anywhere except areas of expected privacy like bathrooms, locker rooms, and dressing rooms.

Still don't get the big deal if the school board members can watch the hallways. They could just go and stand there anytime they wanted and watch so what is the difference?

the difference is that because of the remote access, ANYONE can watch it. The school board member could have it open on his/her computer at home and anyone who has access to his home could view it. And honestly unless they have really good security in place.. any decent hacker could view it too..

 

[sam_gordon]

I'm not thrilled with the idea of that many people having access to the images. What purpose is served by that?

Remember that what is being filmed is minor children. The School District has a legal obligation to protect the privacy of the kids, even when they are filmed in illegal acts. The more people with access, the greater the chance the privacy leaks will occur resulting in legal difficulties for the school.

Why do the age of the kids matter? Someone can be on public property (ie: sidewalk) outside of school and record images of kids. I believe, as long as the images aren't used in commercial situations, that's totally legal.

Again, kids images can/are being viewed LOTS of places... the mall, the bank, the store, fast food restaurants, etc. Why aren't people complaining about THOSE cameras (and who has access to them)?

 

[sam_gordon]

the difference is that because of the remote access, ANYONE can watch it. The school board member could have it open on his/her computer at home and anyone who has access to his home could view it. And honestly unless they have really good security in place.. any decent hacker could view it too..

I'm not disagreeing with you. What I don't get is what the concern is if a member of the general public (NOT a school related person) sees an image of a student in a school hallway. How is that image any different than seeing a kid out in public?

 

[Hannathy]

the difference is that because of the remote access, ANYONE can watch it. The school board member could have it open on his/her computer at home and anyone who has access to his home could view it. And honestly unless they have really good security in place.. any decent hacker could view it too..

And the problem with that would be?

I'm not getting it. Anyone can watch a school. Anyone can see kids on the playground, going between buildings, What could this kids be doing in the hallway that it matters who sees it?

 

[robinb]

I can understand your concern. For me, I would not mind the cameras in the hallway if they are used for the safety of the students and teachers. For instance, a live feed in the office or being able to review the tapes at a later time to verify an event is perfectly reasonable. I think that allowing the school board members live access is overstepping from security support to surveillance/spying. It really opens up the opportunity for a school board member to target a specific teacher or administrator in a kind of at-home stakeout waiting for that person to do something wrong in the eyes of the school board member.

 

[luvsJack]

I can understand your concern. For me, I would not mind the cameras in the hallway if they are used for the safety of the students and teachers. For instance, a live feed in the office or being able to review the tapes at a later time to verify an event is perfectly reasonable. I think that allowing the school board members live access is overstepping from security support to surveillance/spying. It really opens up the opportunity for a school board member to target a specific teacher or administrator in a kind of at-home stakeout waiting for that person to do something wrong in the eyes of the school board member.

I agree. Or if the school board member has a kid in that grade, they could actually target another kid. Plus the fact, can they say with 100% certainity that the school board member's family members won't be watching the cameras?

There is no logical reason for the school board to have that access.

 

[sam_gordon]

It really opens up the opportunity for a school board member to target a specific teacher or administrator in a kind of at-home stakeout waiting for that person to do something wrong in the eyes of the school board member.

I agree. Or if the school board member has a kid in that grade, they could actually target another kid. Plus the fact, can they say with 100% certainity that the school board member's family members won't be watching the cameras?

There is no logical reason for the school board to have that access.

OK, so a school board member can "target" a staff member or student. What are they going to target them for? Even if someone has an axe to grind, wouldn't the subject have to do something wrong?

Let's use the teacher for an example... let's say the school board member wants to get the teacher fired for whatever reason. What do you think the board member would see on camera that even REMOTELY could justify disciplinary actions? If the teacher isn't doing their job, don't you want that pointed out?

As far as the student... how can they be "targeted"?

 

[tiggger1]

OK, so a school board member can "target" a staff member or student. What are they going to target them for? Even if someone has an axe to grind, wouldn't the subject have to do something wrong?

Let's use the teacher for an example... let's say the school board member wants to get the teacher fired for whatever reason. What do you think the board member would see on camera that even REMOTELY could justify disciplinary actions? If the teacher isn't doing their job, don't you want that pointed out?

As far as the student... how can they be "targeted"?

they can be targeted in many ways, kids can be cruel...

 

[RitaE]

And the problem with that would be?

I'm not getting it. Anyone can watch a school. Anyone can see kids on the playground, going between buildings, What could this kids be doing in the hallway that it matters who sees it?

I can give you a semi-example from our town. Big name realtor in town #1 (BNR #1) is on the school board. He is often in direct competition against Big name Realtor #2 (BNR #2), Mom of a local High School student.

The little darling went on a rampage one fine afternoon and smashed up a trophy case and an broke into a bunch of lockers. Evidence was turned over to the local police for prosecution and that is working through whatever juvenile court system handles such things.

BNR #1 used his position as a school board rep to get access to the evidence at the school and then turned that evidence out into the wild for no reason other than to harm the local reputation of BNR #2. He released the name, posted some pictures on a website, brought in the child's past disciplinary records etc. In the process, the child's right to privacy in concerns to his educational and legal records was violated and now the SCHOOL DISTRICT has a legal problem.

So the camera is one thing. However anytime such information is collected and stored in a school system then the school takes on duties to protect that information. You have website log-ins ... then you have security issues. What purpose is there in letting School Board members log-in from anywhere at anytime for any reason. If they have a reasonable need to view the tapes, then they can certainly do so from the school.

No - not anybody can walk into a school and observe.