The Hamilton County Schools have a plan to put security cameras in every school, Supt. Rick Smith told the County School Board Thursday night.
He said the money would come from the $2,201,000 the schools received last year from the sale of the old Ooltewah Elementary School property.
The proposal must get approval from the School Board at the December meeting, then from the County Commission.
Supt. Smith said when he presented the idea to county school principals "they had a very positive response."
He said the cameras should help deter burglaries and vandalism such as the heavy damage wreaked by one individual at Westview Elementary School. Supt. Smith said if the cameras had been in place the damage would have been minimal or none at all.
He said the individual tore up the school while authorities waited to determine how many people might be inside. A series of cameras would have pinpointed how many were in the building, he stated.
Supt. Smith said just the knowledge that the cameras are in place would likely cause would-be burglars to go elsewhere.
He said police officers will have access to the school security cameras through their laptops.
Officials said the SmartView cameras being considered are so effective that "you can zero in and read a license plate that is a hundred feet away."
He said another use for the cameras is the fact that "we have far too many aggressive children. And we have far too many aggressive parents."
The superintendent said the camera systems are a welcome step "for our staff and our children."
He said, "They will probably save the district money - plus make the schools feel better to have these cameras."
The cameras would be placed throughout the interior and exterior of schools where students tend to congregate, it was stated. They would not be in restrooms or dressing areas, but would show access to those locations.
Supt. Smith said some schools already have camera systems of different types, but 45 schools have no cameras at all. Grants were secured to pay most of the cost of the existing cameras. However, officials said Homeland Security grants for schools are difficult to come by.
It is planned to install cameras as new schools are built, including East Brainerd Elementary and Falling Water/Ganns. The existing Ganns School will get a camera system that will be moved to the new combined school when it is ready.
It is expected to take 18 months to get the cameras installed once approval is given. County maintenance personnel will be "stringing wire" for the system, which officials said may take them away from other duties and requests.
Supt. Smith said another needed step sought by principals is to install buzzers for entry to schools. Staff members and faculty will be able to gain access through tags or fobs. The door buzzers may be part of the security package.
Another expenditure from the Ooltewah Elementary proceeds would be to construct a new access to Daisy Elementary School. The current entrance is through the Soddy Daisy High School parking lot.
Board member Rhonda Thurman said it is a dangerous situation "when 16-year-olds are getting out and five-year-olds coming in at the same time." She said the traffic backup from the two schools stretches to the freeway.
Former County Commissioner Fred Skillern contributed $100,000 from his discretionary fund for the road. The county school portion will be $250,000.
Ms. Thurman said there has been a seven-year effort to get the new school access.