Vandalism prompts more cameras at Bethel Park High School
More eyes will be watching students at Bethel Park High School to thwart a recent rash of vandalism.
Bethel Park School Board will likely approve the purchase of five additional surveillance cameras at its March 24 meeting.
Some students have been damaging stalls and bathroom fixtures in the restrooms. School officials said they deal with some vandalism every school year, but this year it is especially problematic.
Due to obvious privacy concerns, no cameras will be inside the restrooms. Instead, they will be installed in the hallway outside. Security guards will keep track of any damage, noting the time that any vandalism occurred, and questioning any student who is seen going into or out of the restroom within the timeframe.
“Hopefully this will help us identify who is responsible,” said board president Donna Cook.
Any student caught damaging school property will be cited criminally and will have to make full restitution to the school district.
At the committee meeting March 17, board members questioned school officials why the cameras were not installed when the high school was built three years ago.
Matthew Howard, assistant to the superintendent, said the number of surveillance cameras was reduced in an effort to keep the building project under budget. Initial plans called for 190 cameras to be installed throughout the building, but that number was reduced to about 145.
The existing cameras have some coverage at restroom entrances, but faces are not discernible because the cameras are too far away.
Cost for the additional cameras and licenses will be $4,372.
In another matter, the school board will likely purchase software to keep track of maintenance tasks in the various school buildings. The program from SchoolDude will have an initial cost of $7,725, which includes the first year subscription and startup costs. After the first year, the program will have an annual subscription fee of $3,600.
The district hires an outside contractor to perform maintenance services in the school district, but school officials believe they may be able to save money by doing the work in house. The software purchase will be one of the first steps in establishing a maintenance department. The district will also have to hire a maintenance director eventually.