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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2007-08-30, Page 34Huron-Perth Catholic DistrictSchool Board administrators nowhave the authority to install surveillance cameras in schools, as a result of a four-to-one vote at a regular meeting Monday, Aug. 27. Officially, the affirmative vote approved a policy about “video surveillance systems.” But the result is that education superintendent Dan Parr will now search for the most suitable suppliers and begin the process of informing the public about the installation of cameras at the board’s two secondary schools. There is nothing in the new policy prohibiting the installation of cameras in elementary schools. But it does state that approval of the systems “shall be granted by the superintendent responsible for secondary schools.” North Perth/Perth East/Huron East trustee Vince McInnes cast the lone dissenting vote. He challenged administration to justify the cost – estimated at a total between $59,000 and $70,000 for installation at both St. Anne’s in Clinton and St. Michaelin Stratford.Business superintendent GerryThuss explained each secondaryschool will be fitted with between 10-12 regular digital video cameras, one or two “low-light cameras to be placed at the perimeters of the property,” and a digital recording device. The labour required for installation will be fairly intricate, Thuss added. South Huron/Bluewater trustee Mike Miller noted the use of digital technology over outdated videotape technology will also add to the cost. But following the meeting, McInnes made clear in an interview that the cost is less of a concern than the precedent being set regarding privacy. “It’s almost like Big Brother looking over your shoulder,” he said. McInnes also noted during the meeting that there’s nothing prohibiting the board from expanding the use of cameras into elementary schools. The decision to install cameras did not come without deliberation. Parr explained a survey of students, conducted in 2006, put surveillancecameras in third spot on a list ofpriorities for boosting theeffectiveness of the board’s anti-bullying initiatives. Ahead of camerason that list were having a trusted staff member to whom bullying victims can talk; and increasing in-person surveillance by authority figures in the school. Last spring, an ad hoc meeting in response to those surveys – with participation from various community stakeholders – addressed the camera issue. “School administrators, parents and the police all thought they were a good idea. And the student trustees, although they came into the meeting thinking it wasn’t such a good idea, I think they left the meeting with a different viewpoint,” Parr said. Late last spring, trustees were presented with the opportunity to give administrators the go-ahead to purchase camera systems over the summer. Instead, staff was directed to gather more information, and that’s why the issue reappeared at the Aug. 27 meeting. Prior to the vote, Parr told trustees that “from my understanding, most ofthe high schools in the province havebeen using (cameras).”And after the meeting, educationdirector Larry Langan said in aninterview that surveillance cameras will “further enhance what are already two safe secondary schools.” Included in the new video surveillance systems policy are clauses setting out how the public will be informed about the installation, what training will be required for those operating the system, who has access to the information gathered, how long the data is kept, and where on the property cameras must be located. There’s also a requirement for the board to review the policy at regularintervals.“We’re defining very closely …who is to be consulted, who is to beinformed, and how that consultationwill take place. We’re specific about signage that is to appear on schools which have video surveillance cameras,” Parr explained. “And I would make the decision about where in the school the cameras would be installed. It would be outside of board policy for someone else to make a decision to move (a camera) to another place.” Langan said systems probably won’t be installed until a break in classes: either over Christmas or between first and second semester. Teacher-chaperoned March break sojourns to Europe or the southern United States may become a thing of the past in the Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, thanks to a tightening of policy regarding school trips. “Travel agency and tourism-based field trips that occur during school breaks are inconsistent with the expectations of educational excursions. These trips will not be approved as board or school educational field trips. Board staff will not act as agents, nor advertise for non-approved field trips at school or during the school day,” states an amendment to the board’s educational field trips policy, approved by trustees at a regular meeting Monday, Aug. 27. Education superintendent Dan Parr, who outlined the amendment prior to the vote, noted the revised policy will not prohibit all school- sponsored trips during March break, Christmas holidays, or over the summer. But the trips will now be required to “deliver value or contribute value” to the established curriculum. “Nothing in this policy is intended to jeopardize existing programs which have demonstrated value to the programming of our schools,” Parr said, when asked about the future of a popular trip taking high school students to the Dominican Republic for aid work. Asked if an overseas trip by a rugby team in the summertime would be approved, however, Parr suggested it would not. According to the superintendent, the decision to revisit the policy came after “seeing an increase in travel agency types of packages being offered” to high school students. He said such marketing blitzes have traditionally concentrated on post-secondary campuses, aimed at attracting business to Florida and other March break destinations. But increasingly, companies have been targeting secondary schools. Parr said there have always been a limited number of trips organized by teachers, with tourism as the main theme. But advice received recently by Huron-Perth administrators from legal and insurance experts suggests school boards probably shouldn’t be involved at that level. Also approved was an amendment to the same educational field trip policy, authorizing the board to turn down requests to sanction trips “to destinations where there is a likelihood of political or social unrest that puts students in situations of potential risk.” PAGE 34. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2007. March break field trips may become a thing of the past HPCDSB votes to put cameras in schools George Canyon Live in Concert Saturday, October 6 Blyth Memorial Hall www.blythfestival.com 1-877-862-5984 or 519-523-9300 Tickets on sale now Forthcoming Marriage Cam and Mary Cook of Belgrave are happy to announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter Jennifer Cook to Mitchell Harris son of Ray and Connie Harris of Lucknow. The wedding will take place at the bride’s parents’home on September 1, 2007. Family and friends are welcome to join them for the reception at Belgrave Community Centre at 8:30 pm Wedding Announcement Murray and Ruth Lowe of Brussels would like to announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter Nicole Marie Lowe to Michael John Noble son of Tammy Noble and Ken Noble and Shelly Lockie of Gorrie on Saturday, September 1, 2007 at 3:30 pm Brussels United Church Family and friends are invited to attend the open reception at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre from 9 pm - 1 am Happy 45th Anniversary Siebolt & Annie Siertsema! Open House Saturday, September 8 2~4 pm Blyth Christian Reformed Church Happy 25th Anniversary August 28 Rick & Karen Smith Love from your family By Stew SlaterSpecial to The Citizen By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen