The Assembly/Board of Directors authorizes the use of video surveillance and electronic monitoring equipment. The video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment shall be used to protect Board property and assets from theft and vandalism, through deterrence and video documentation. The system is not designed nor intended to protect individuals from being victims of violent or property crimes, nor to detect other potentially illegal and undesirable activities that may occur, although information may be used as evidence in such cases.

The Executive Director is responsible for determining where to install and operate fixed-location video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment in the Council. The determination of where and when to use video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment will be made in a nondiscriminatory manner. Video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment may be placed in common areas in buildings, parking lots, and other outside areas. Except in extraordinary circumstances and with the written authorization of the Executive Director, video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment shall not be used in areas where person have a reasonable expectation of privacy (e.g., restrooms, locker rooms, changing areas, private offices (unless there is express consent given by the office occupant), or conference/meeting rooms). Security staff and administrators are authorized to carry and use portable video cameras when responding to incidents.

Any person who takes action to block, move, or alter the location and/or viewing angle of a video camera shall be subject to disciplinary action.

Notice shall be placed at the main entrance to buildings and in the areas where video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment is in use to notify people that their actions/behavior are being monitored/recorded. The Executive Director is directed to annually notify staff via the Staff Handbook, of the use of video surveillance/electronic monitoring systems in their schools.

Any information obtained from video surveillance/electronic monitoring systems may only be used to support the orderly operation of the Council's facilities, and for law enforcement purposes, and not for any other purposes. As such, recordings obtained through the use of video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment may be used as evidence in any disciplinary proceedings, administrative proceeding or criminal proceeding, subject to Board policy and regulations. Further, such recordings may become a part of a staff member's personnel file.

Ordinarily video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment will not be used to make an audio recording of conversation occurring on school grounds or property.

The Board will not use video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment to obtain information for the purpose of routine staff appraisal/evaluation or monitoring.

Council personnel may view relevant portions of any video relating to any disciplinary charge against them, upon written request to the building principal, provided that viewing the recording does not violate State and/or Federal law (i.e., the privacy rights of any students whose images appear on the recordings). Otherwise, such confidential recordings shall only be released through subpoena or court order.

The Board shall maintain video surveillance/electronic monitoring recordings for a limited period. Any request to view a recording under this policy must be made within seven (7) days of the event/incident. If, however, action is taken by the Board/administration, as a result of a formal complaint or incident, recordings shall be kept for a minimum of one (1) year from the date of the action taken.

Authorized videotaping for educational, instructional and/or research purposes is permitted and is not addressed by this policy.

The Executive Director is directed to develop administrative guidelines to address the use of video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment in buildings and on property owned and/or operated by the Board.

Video surveillance is to be implemented in accordance with this policy and the related guidelines. The Board will not accept or tolerate the improper use of video surveillance/electronic monitoring equipment and will take appropriate action in any cases of wrongful use of this policy.

FERPA 20 U.S.C. 1232g
34 C.F.R. 99.1-99.67
Title I of the Electronic Communication Privacy Act of 1986
18 U.S.C. 2510-2521