Clay School Board Approves Purchase of New Security System

The Clay County Board of Education approved the purchase of a new security system during its Thursday meeting.

Attendance and Technology Supervisor Derick Upchurch said the system will change how the district’s security cameras store their footage. Upchurch said the system would also allow for law enforcement to access a live feed of the cameras in an emergency.

“It’s going to basically come in and take all our old cameras, and we have what’s called NVRs where it’s like box somewhere in the school that’s recording and it will go to a online-based data storage for all our camera systems,” Upchurch said.

Upchurch said the system will also come with new access controls for certain exterior doors that will log staff as they enter and exit buildings via swipe cards. Upchurch said the system is designed so the district can expand it by adding more cameras and access controls over time.

“We have the access controls,” Finance Director Ashley White said. “We have the ability to make those cards, and then clear them or – and change them as people come and go with turnover.”

White said the majority of the Avigilon System purchase will be paid for by the $225,000 COPS grant, with two smaller grants supplementing the payment.

“Altogether they are $298,922 and the bid is $299,729,” White said. “So yeah, you’re like, I don’t know, six or seven hundred dollars short. We can make that work.”

In other business, the board chose to stay with Risk Management Trust for their 2024-2025 insurance coverage. The board also approved the purchase of a mower and new Chromebooks to be used by students throughout the school district.