Board OKs New Security Cams, But Elementary Guards Gone by January

The Lindenhurst School Board approved a list of measures at their most recent school board meeting to approve new security equipment upgrades and enhancements throughout the district.

The board unanimously approved measures to purchase security upgrades across the district including: a new digital video recording software interface (DVR), camera additions, access key cards for all in-use district buildings, an automatic announcement for lockdowns over the public address system, one button lockdowns via text message, a door ajar surveillance system, and two-way video intercom system for greeters.

According to estimates handed out at a previous meeting, the approved measures would cost upwards of $429,000, although another estimate put the security upgrades' total cost around $500,000.

Before approving the measures, board president Donna Hochman noted the district had to start the process. The board held two public meetings concerning security in the district over the past two months.

"We’re going through each phase, and voting on each phase? We have to get this project moving," Hochman said.

“We looked at all of the options," said Jacqueline Scrio, assistant superintendent for business. "We looked for quite a few months at how many options we had that let us continue to use our current hardware.”

Scrio explained the district would pay for the new equipment through a combination of leftover money from prior budget capital funds, Hurricane Sandy relief funds and extra money in this year's budget. She said she expected some of the funds to be aided by the state in next year's budget to help recoup the costs of buying the systems.

The board did not approve a few of the measures suggested, including continuing the presence of unarmed security guards at the district's elementary schools after December.

While the suggestion had caused concerned parents to speak out at previous meetings, none spoke up during the meeting to voice their opinion at the December 4 meeting.

In addition to discontinuing the security guards, the board did not approve a few other suggested measures for the district, including lockdown strobe lights, a double-door man trap nor a "Knox box," which contains vital entrance keys on the outside of a building in a box that only emergency crews can open.