Dayton Considers Security Cameras

DAYTON - Though the old story that teachers have eyes in the back of their heads turns out to be untrue, school officials in Dayton hope to keep a watchful "eye" on certain high-risk areas on school grounds with a new security camera system.

"I hate security cameras," said Superintendent Doug Johnson. "But I'd rather make a couple thousand dollar investment in cameras than keep spending money on clean up."

Vandalism at the Dayton School District has grown more frustrating over the last 18 months to two years, Johnson said.

This year the district spent $2,500 replacing a carpet at the front entrance to the high school after vandals dumped paint on the old floor covering. Then, during the first full night the new carpet was in, someone came and burned cigarette holes in it.

"We're hoping cameras will either keep this petty vandalism from happening any more, or we'll be able to catch the guilty parties and make them pay," Johnson said.

The district has been researching camera systems and options but hasn't decided on anything specific yet, Johnson told the school board last Wednesday.

Officials are looking at outdoor cameras on the back and side of the high school gym, inside the gym, and outside the three main high school entrances. Down the road, Johnson said, the school might consider more cameras in the high school commons area, on the walkway extending from the high school to the elementary school, and at the elementary playground, which is open to public use.

New digital camera equipment would mean staff wouldn't have to sit through hours of film to see footage following an incident, Johnson said. "They have equipment that will fast forward to any kind of activity recorded," he told the board.

And technological advances mean officials will have better luck than "in the old days" at being able to identify perpetrators, Johnson said.

Other vandalism reported at the school in the last few months has included frequent damage to sprinklers, damage to hoses when vandals tied the ends to two trees and a car drove through it, and flooding in the gym after someone pointed a sprinkler at one of the gymnasium doors.