As part of a plan to increase campus security, 16 new security cameras were installed across the campus during Christmas break.

“This is a driving force to make kids safer,” said Dean of Students Thomas Vierheller.

This addition doubles the count of security cameras on campus to 32. The cameras are located both inside and outside the school.

Two cameras are located on each floor of the academic wing, with other cameras in the food service area of the cafeteria and the faculty parking lot.

“The prime spots have been hit,” said Vierheller.

The cameras serve primarily to protect the school from outsiders, though they can be used for disciplinary action against students, according to Vierheller. They aren’t monitored constantly to see student behavior, but rather reviewed if the administration is investigating an incident.

“We’re really not looking to catch students, [the cameras are] more for monitoring [people from the outside coming in],” said Vierheller.

Principal Paul Barker still feels that while the prime reason for installing the cameras was campus security, they have a deterrent effect on students.

“Students make poor choices,” said Barker. Barker added that he believes that with the cameras, students are less likely to do something foolish.

Science teacher Linda Gustafson, however, sees the cameras as mainly a deterrent to make school a safer place for students in regards to bullying.

At the same time, she recognizes the use they have use in campus security. “Keeping kids safe is most important, whether it’s from intruders or social predatory behavior,” said Gustafson.

“We have a better sense of people coming in the door,” said Barker.

“I see people I don’t recognize coming in here,” said math and science teacher Susan Kraft. According to Kraft, the cameras will become especially beneficial during evening and weekend activities.

According to Barker, there was no one incident that sparked the installation. Rather, Barker said that since his start as principal in 2001, numerous parents have come forward each year to address campus security.

“We had an open mentality about the campus,” said Barker. But, “we’ve had a number of things happen on campus.” Barker cites incidents such as a man exposing himself and a cash box being stolen during a basketball game before Christmas break last year.

“Wacky stuff can happen, but now we’ve got a shot at catching bad guys,” said Barker.

And according to students, these “bad guys” can be both inside and outside the building.

Sophomore Zach Mueller believes the cameras deter student misbehavior inside the building, while freshman Kiana Wright feels they deter outsiders from stepping inside.

Freshman Michelle Capiello said she didn’t even notice the cameras.

Vierheller attributes attitudes like Capiello’s about the cameras as going hand-in-hand with behaving and following the rules. “No one thinks about them because you’ve done nothing wrong,” said Vierheller.

Another advantage of the cameras, according to Barker, is the elimination of fines from the police department for false alarm calls.

Now, when an alarm is triggered, security footage can be immediately reviewed to see if a true threat exists. If so, the police can then be contacted.

Without the cameras, the police come by default. And most of the alarms are triggered, according to Barker, by faculty or staff who forget to follow procedure, resulting in fines for the school.

The cameras are funded in part by a grant from the Maryland Emergency Management Agency. The school pays for 25 percent of the cost, while M.E.M.A. takes care of the other 75 percent, according to Barker.

Barker calls the move “incredibly affordable.”

Gustafson agrees with the school’s proactive approach in paying for the cameras. “Better to have them now and not need them than the other way around,” said Gustafson.

Footage from the cameras can be viewed via an IP address, allowing those with access to view footage from outside the school, according to Vierheller.

Those with the ability to view the footage include Principal Paul Barker, Vice Principal for Academics Gary Scholl, Dean of Students Thomas Vierheller, Director of Facilities Stewart Walker and Executive Assistant to the President Shelby Emich.

Both the administration and faculty have hope to expand the coverage of the cameras to an extent.

“If there was a third phase, it would be optimal to put cameras on the student lot,” said Barker.

Others like Vierheller and Kraft wish to see more installed in the academic wing, to “further classroom safety.” Kraft expressed concern for both personal items and expensive equipment in teachers’ classrooms.

At the same time, however, “we don’t want the students to be paranoid walking around,” Vierheller said.

Collin Hoofnagle can be reached for comment at [email protected]. Taylor Schafer can be reached for comment at [email protected].

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