The Board of Education authorizes the use of video surveillance equipment at various school sites throughout the District and on school buses. The video surveillance 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 monitoring of actions and behavior of individuals who come onto school property is a significant factor in maintaining order and discipline and protecting students, staff, visitors, and school and student property. Video surveillance systems serve to complement other means being employed in the District to promote and foster a safe and secure teaching and learning environment for students and staff. The Board recognizes that the use of a video surveillance system does not replace the need for the ongoing vigilance of the school staff assigned by the building director to monitor and supervise the school building. Rather, the video surveillance system serves as an appropriate and useful tool with which to augment or support the in-person supervision provided by staff. The building director is responsible for verifying that due diligence is observed in maintaining general campus security.

The Superintendent is responsible for determining where to install and operate fixed-location video surveillance equipment in the District. The determination of where and when to use video surveillance equipment will be made in a nondiscriminatory manner. Video surveillance equipment may be placed in common areas in school buildings (e.g., school hallways, entryways, the front office where students, employees and visitors are permitted to freely come and go, gymnasiums, cafeterias, libraries), the school parking lots and other outside areas, and in school buses. Except in extraordinary circumstances and with the written authorization of the Superintendent, video surveillance 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), or in individual classrooms during instructional times. 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.

Legible and visible signs shall be placed at the main entrance to buildings and in the areas where video surveillance equipment is in use to notify people that their actions/behavior are being monitored/recorded. Additionally, the Superintendent is directed to annually notify parents and students via school newsletters and the Student Handbook, and staff via the Staff Handbook, of the use of video surveillance systems in their schools.

Any information obtained from video surveillance systems may only be used to support the orderly operation of the School District's schools and facilities, and for law enforcement purposes, and not for any other purposes. As such, recordings obtained through the use of video surveillance 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 student's education record or staff member's personnel file.

Under no circumstances will video surveillance equipment be used to make an audio recording of conversation occurring on school grounds or property.

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

Recordings of students will be treated as confidential. Consequently, because the Board is bound by Ohio's Student Records Statute and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), copies of video recordings containing personal identifiable information about students shall not be released except to school officials with legitimate educational interests. Otherwise, such confidential recordings shall only be released through subpoena or court order.

This policy does not address or cover instances where school officials record a specific event (e.g., a play, music performance, athletic contest, graduation, or Board meeting), or an isolated instance where a classroom is videotaped for educational or research purposes. Authorized videotaping for educational, instructional and/or research purposes is permitted and is not addressed by this policy.

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 equipment and will take appropriate action in any cases of wrongful use of this policy.

As needed, the Superintendent shall conduct a review to verify that this policy and its implementing guidelines are being adhered to, and report to the Board on the use of video surveillance equipment in the District.

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

Adopted 6/11/09