RUSSELLVILLE, AR – Russellville School District is stepping up its security camera presence at the High School and Career Center with a $160,000 purchase approved by the School Board this week.
“I’m a unique generation with a 17-year-old being my youngest,” said Sarah Bolin, as she made one of her last trips up to Russellville High School as a parent of a student.
“We didn’t think about it a lot as far as security went,” she said. “Now, it’s becoming the new norm.”
School security is something that has been ushered in as her son’s education has progressed.
“Some of the elementary schools after my children left, having lock door things,” she said. “And given things that have happened across the country, it does make me feel safer.”
Now Russellville School District is investing in another upgrade for student safety.
“We’re happy we could be proactive and not have to wait until something happens,” said Superintendent Randall Williams.
A new $160 thousand security camera system has been approved for purchase, which would triple the video presence on the high school campus.
“We have some cameras aren’t operating, we have some that are,” Williams said. “So, we’re opting to just overhaul the whole system.”
Some cameras across campus like one in a stairwell function, but the quality of the images isn’t what administrators would like to see.
“We also have some areas that aren’t adequately covered,” Williams said. “The additional cameras will offer that additional coverage in areas like parking lots as the campus grows.”
The upgrade will bring roughly 150 cameras to campus as part of an overall security plan that includes restricted access doors and a Russellville Police Resource Officer.
“The students do figure out what’s covered and what’s not,” Williams said. “The general mischief that would occur would happen in areas not covered by cameras no doubt about it. So, we’re hoping the cameras can serve as a behavior reminder.”
And when mischief or situations like a robbery do arise, an objective eye will hopefully have caught it all.
“You don’t have to rely on the recounting of teenage students who saw something” Williams said. “Or if a crime is committed during the night, we can review the security system and perhaps have evidence to provide to police.”
Bolin said she believed the purchase is worth the price tag.
“When you hear about things that happen in other schools, other states, shootings what have you there is no price it’s all worth it,” she said.
Administrators say the new cameras will be installed over the summer, and the plan is to have those operational and in place at the start of the fall school semester.
