Starting this summer, video surveillance systems will be installed throughout all campuses in the Dry Creek Joint Elementary School Dis- trict to help protect against vandalism and other crimes.
And it appears the move couldn't have come at a better time.
As schools let out for summer vacation, vandals and thieves have struck several area campuses, including destroying 21 trees last week at Roseville High School, ruining air-conditioning units at Sacramento's John Sloat Elementary and pulling a rash of student pranks at Kennedy High School in Sacramento.
The crimes have resulted in thousands of dollars in repairs and community outrage.
"We know that video surveillance is an extremely effective system for property and student safety," said Mark Geyer, superintendent of the Dry Creek district, which includes campuses in Roseville and Sacramento County's Antelope area.
Geyer explained that vandalism costs for his district dropped from $35,000 to $7,000 a year after installing cameras at the newest schools – Silverado Middle School in 2005 and Barrett Ranch Elementary in 2006.
Video surveillance also was placed in spots at a few other campuses, Geyer said. The goal is to have cameras watching for mischief in most areas of all district schools by the end of the year. To carry out the mission, Dry Creek trustees this month awarded a contract to Sonlight Communications. The company will provide and install new surveillance equipment at Antelope Crossing Middle School and Antelope Meadows, Heritage Oak and Quail Glen elementary schools.
Some public schools have been equipped with video surveillance systems since before the mass shooting at Columbine High School drew national attention to school safety, according to Video-Surveillance-Guide.com. While there is mounting pressure to provide video surveillance, schools have struggled with the high expense, particularly in times of tight budgets.
Jon Coleman, assistant principal at Roseville High School, said video surveillance would cost his school an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 in startup costs. He hopes that the latest school vandalism will help speed up a longtime effort to secure the funds.
"I was mortified and incredibly shocked that someone would do such a wanton act of violence to our school," Coleman said of his discovery at 5:30 a.m. June 3 of 21 campus trees chopped down.
The online Video Surveillance Guide recommends that school districts analyze and list their needs and security concerns to determine whether video surveillance is the best response. Questions to consider include:
• What security threats will the new cameras address?
• How will the surveillance equipment address those threats?
• How will the system be maintained and staffed?
School officials must weigh the costs of video surveillance against its benefits, such as providing sources of physical evidence when crimes do occur and protecting student privacy.
In addition to expanding video surveillance at Dry Creek schools, there also is a plan to improve how the system works, Geyer said. The district now can review surveillance tapes after a crime occurs to help identify perpetrators. Geyer said he is working with the Roseville Police Department to allow police to monitor district schools in real time.
Dry Creek's video surveillance has been funded up to 50 percent by a Roseville Police Department safety grant. Remaining costs are funded by Measure E, a $67.3 million bond approved by voters in February.
Call Lakiesha McGhee at (916) 773-7630.
