School Committee prepares to set surveillance camera policy

Surveillance cameras came one step closer to installation at Needham High School Tuesday night, June 5, when the School Committee reviewed a proposed policy for the controversial surveillance system.

The camera system, which would include 21 cameras inside and outside the school, raised concern among civil rights activists and some committee members when it was announced last month in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre. Several Massachusetts school districts, including Natick and Watertown, already use camera surveillance.

According to a proposed amendment to the student handbook, “video surveillance may be in use in some public areas of school property, such as hallways, gymnasium, cafeteria and exterior locations of the school building. Appropriate disciplinary action may be taken for misconduct which is recorded or observed from the surveillance system.”

Chairman Donald Gratz, who said he was initially concerned by the system but now supports it, asked that references to “surveillance” be removed from the amendment.

“The purpose is not surveillance,” Gratz said. “The purpose is security.”

The proposed policy notes the system would not be monitored live except in case of emergency. Recordings would only be reviewed in the event of “serious incidents, such as violence, theft, crime and vandalism.”

Of the 21 cameras in the system, only four would be inside the school. The rest would be positioned around the exterior of the building.

Richards told the committee he had worked with the student council and won the support of most parents and teachers, though he admitted a “very vocal minority” opposes the surveillance system.

“There was a healthy discussion about how this sort of thing affects the culture and climate of the school,” he told the committee.

The committee also reviewed handbook changes regarding substance abuse to include prescription drugs. The new policy will require mandatory assessment by a district official following an infraction.

The committee will vote on both changes at its June 19 meeting.

Neal Simpson can be reached at nsimpson@cnc.com.