Overton Schools Adding Security Cameras To Cover More

New security cameras will help monitor more blind spots across the Overton County School System.

Overton County Schools Supervisor of Technology Brent Thrasher said School Resource Officers have pointed out the blind spots in larger spaces of multiple schools. He said the new cameras will monitor monitor both outdoor and indoor spaces, depending on the need at each campus.

“Schools are large, you know, wide-area buildings,” Thrasher said. “It’s hard to have 100 percent visibility, but, you know, you want to focus in on those areas of concern. The areas that are high-traffic areas.”

Thrasher said the bid is broken into two parts. $75,000 for the cameras and some $40,000 for the cabling. He said he expects a quick installation process. The School Board approved a low bid of some $115,000 for security cameras funded by a school safety grant.

“Schools are very diligent to have procedures and processes in place,” Thrasher said. “You know, safety plans. Things that they take into consideration, and not only monitoring cameras, but they have a lot in place to ensure that the school is a safe, safe place.”

Thrasher said the visual aspect of school safety is vital. He said the cameras will allow SROs and school administration live monitorization of what is happening inside the walls and on many of the most remote areas of school grounds. He said the cameras will also allow them to look at footage some 30 days old.

“It’s pretty simple,” Thrasher said. “A lot of it’s done above the drop ceilings in our schools, so those contractors are knowledgeable about those procedures for installing those cables, and a lot of it is done through the hallways, so it’s done without disruption.”

He said the cabling has two separate purposes. He said some of the cabling in the bid will be used as mounting for the cameras, while some will be networking cable, used to connect the camera to a network cabinet.