| | Published November 21st, 2012
| Someone’s Watching, Surveillance Cameras on Campus
| | By Cathy Tyson | | | Most folks think we live in a fairly safe community, but recently the governing board of the Lafayette School District approved a proposal from DecoTech Systems for installing motion- activated surveillance systems at Burton Valley, Happy Valley and Springhill elementary schools and adding to more cameras to the Stanley Middle School campus.
 “Anecdotal evidence suggests that we have had less vandalism and theft at Stanley and Lafayette schools, where we have already installed cameras,” said Dr. Fred Brill, superintendent of the Lafayette School District. The cameras will cost approximately $60,000.
“I am confident that there will be a cost savings. With less theft, graffiti and vandalism, our custodians and maintenance staff will be able to spend more time maintaining safe and clean learning environments for our students,” said Brill. “In addition to having copper wire, solar panels, and computers stolen over the years, there have been several incidents of ‘smash and grabs’ (purses stolen from cars) in our parking lots.”
Vandals and thieves beware, Brill wants to spread the message that, “We have these cameras and we have used them to catch those individuals engaging in criminal behavior.”
“We’re enthused and excited, vandalism has been a problem here,” said Office Manager Marsha Dahl of Burton Valley Elementary School. At times there have been small fires set on the Burton Valley playground, spray paint on doors, and the letters in the signboard out front changed into different messages. The semi-rural campus is set back from the street in a quiet residential neighborhood. |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Advertisement | | |
| | | print story
Before you print this article, please remember that it will remain in our archive for you to visit anytime.
download pdf
(use the pdf document for best printing results!) | | | Comments | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA