Big brother is watching: Security cameras keep an eye on school

Mike LaBella
Eagle-Tribune
Dec. 15, 2006

HAVERHILL - If a fight or other problem were to happen in a Consentino Middle School hallway, chances are the principal or another school official could see what was happening and respond in seconds. Video surveillance, like you might find at a department store or gas station, has come to Consentino.

Big Brother is watching, and students are aware of what it means to them.

"I found out about it last year," eighth-grader Matthew Tavares said. "I thought the cameras on the hallway ceilings were smoke detectors at first until I was in the assistant principal's office and saw a television. A camera was pointing down my hallway."

Since becoming Consentino principal four years ago, James Scully has used private donations along with city money to buy and install a video surveillance system, one camera and one monitor at a time.

With nine cameras now mounted on hallway ceilings and video monitors in several front offices, it is the most extensive system in any public school in the city, with the exception of Haverhill High - which is in the process of completing the installation of a more elaborate system through its multimillion-dollar renovation project.

"When I came here, discipline and control were a problem for teachers and the kids that go to this school," Scully said. "Some people think that schools can solve society's ills, but unfortunately, we can't. We have an obligation to make sure schools are as safe as we possibly can."

During the 2000 and 2001 school year, a full-time police officer was assigned to Consentino to help it deal with an increase in student discipline problems. Scully said that officer's position was cut during his first year at the school due to a lack of money.

School resource officers offer more than security, Scully said.

"There are number of situations that benefit having an officer available," he said. "A school resource officer that handles discipline issues is not needed at this particular time. The most important thing is, when we do have an issue, we get tremendous assistance from the Police Department."

School Committee member Kerry Fitzgerald considers video surveillance systems a useful tool for schools.

"The way the world is now, I don't see how we have any other choice but to give schools tools that help keep our kids safe," she said.

Haverhill High's surveillance system proved its merit when it recorded six students in the act of pulling fire alarms at different times. School officials were able to play back digital video recordings, which helped them identify those involved.

Matthew said cameras in his school's halls tend to discourage students from taking part in activities such as stealing from lockers or fighting.

"If someone did something to someone it would be caught on tape," Matthew said. "Once in a while kids will try to do something like kick a locker. Other kids will say, 'Don't do that, because someone is watching us.' I think it stops fights from happening, too.With the cameras, school is now a safer place to be."

Jeff Dill, maintenance supervisor for the city, said that most public schools in the city have at least one camera and one monitor protecting their front entryways.

At Haverhill High, where a full-time school resource officer is assigned, the new video surveillance system operates constantly, observing the building and its occupants.

Dill said these kinds of systems are intended to help stop intruders; discourage vandalism, gang activity and fights; and even discourage students from skipping class and gathering in particular areas of the building.

Haverhill High's system is about 90 percent complete and will eventually enable school officials such as the superintendent to monitor activity from a distance through a secure Internet connection, Dill said.

Consentino's cameras watch every hallway as well as outside the building.

Scully said that since the system was installed, vandalism to the outside of the building has diminished.

"We used to find broken bottles on school grounds," Scully said. "Not any more. Vandalism is down. It's nil."

Students are aware of the system, Scully said, and it seems to be impacting their behavior.

He offered one example of how the system is on the minds of students.

"One boy recently broke a window in a door by accident," Scully said. "He came to my office to tell me what happened. Kids know that we don't have to play detective any more."

Scully is looking to upgrade the system and wants to install as many as 24 cameras.

He plans to use a $500 grant he received this week from Exxon Mobil in Bradford to convert the recording process to digital, in place of the current VHS taping system.

Charlene MacCurtain, manager of the Mobil station, said she was able to secure an education alliance corporate grant from Exxon Mobil for Consentino.

MacCurtain is familiar with video surveillance, as she has a system at her Bradford station.

"It's all about security and protecting your employees and customers," MacCurtain said. "At Consentino, parents want to know their kids are safe."

How it works

Nine cameras about the size and shape of softballs are attached to hallway ceilings and exterior walls.

The cameras feed live video into four monitors in the principal's office, assistant principal's office and front office.

Video is recorded for future playback.












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