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USC approves school monitoring policy

By Terry Kish for The Almanac writer@thealmanac.Net 2 min read

The Upper St. Clair School Board during its Oct. 23 meeting approved a policy for monitoring school buildings and grounds and a policy for transportation video-audio monitoring.

Video recorders now may be placed in and around schools and/or buildings, and all students are subject to being videotaped at school at any time.

The superintendent or designee will review the video media randomly, as well as in response to alleged improper conduct. If no incidents are reported, the video media will typically be recycled or rewritten within 45 days. If an incident is detected on tape, the tape will be preserved.

The purpose of the transportation video-audio monitoring policy is to maintain discipline and ensure the safety and security of anyone being transported on district owned, operated, or contracted school vehicles.

Video and audio recordings may be reviewed only with the proper authorization of the superintendent or his designee. As with the security monitoring of school buildings and grounds policy, the superintendent or designee will review the video and audio media randomly, as well as in response to alleged improper conduct.

Also during the meeting, the board received an update from Superintendent Patrick O’Toole about the district’s capital projects.

The USC school district plans to construct a new eight-lane pool at the high school and a multi-use complex at the high school stadium to include home and visitor-side bleacher repair and renovation, accessible restrooms, a ticket booth, concession area, announcing facilities, multi-use space available for school district and community use and district administrative office space.

The estimated cost for the projects, which also includes the completion of the Boyce athletic field facilities, is $16 million.

O’Toole said design development for the project is on track for bids to go out in December. Bids are expected to be accepted in late January, with work set to begin in late spring or summer of 2018.

Preliminary discussions have also begun about financing for the project, and O’Toole expects information regarding financing parameters will be ready for discussion at the board’s November meeting.

In other business, the board recognized high school maintenance foreman Stephen Mehalik, who is retiring this year. USC parent Stacie de la Parra was also recognized for her work with the district’s Parent Teacher Council New Family Welcome, an event she organized 13 years ago.

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