Glendale school district hires firm to enhance camera security
Roosevelt Middle School and Glendale Unified’s headquarters will be among the first sites in the school district to receive new camera systems in a district-wide effort to enhance security on campuses.
The Glendale School Board approved allocating $3 million in Measure S funds in late 2012 to bolster security at its 30 schools. Since then, crews have made improvements to perimeter fencing and have installed panic buttons at the majority of school sites that allow school staff to make calls to 911 with a single push.
Last November, Glendale school officials sought proposals from firms to install a district-wide security camera system. They eventually whittled down eight interested firms to choose Orange-based Convergint Technologies.
Alan Reising, an administrator of district facilities for Glendale Unified, said in an email that the system at each school site will utilize a varying number of cameras, depending on each school’s layout and needs.
A centralized video system will allow staff at each school to monitor footage, which can also be viewed by district administrators as well as police and fire officers, who will have the ability to access the system remotely.
“The system is protected by a very robust security package that prevents unauthorized users from accessing the system,” Reising said.
The company will install the camera systems in the coming weeks at Roosevelt and the district’s headquarters at a cost of about $116,000.
Crews will continue to install camera systems at all Glendale Unified schools over the next 12 months.
Aside from the camera systems, the district’s security improvements have, for the most part, been completed, Reising said, adding that officials will continue to look for ways to make additional improvements in the future.
“The district is always looking to improve the security of our schools,” Reising said. “As issues and concerns are raised by the school community, the district will evaluate and install other security improvements as needed.”
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Follow Kelly Corrigan on Twitter: @kellymcorrigan.
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