DURHAM -- Students in Durham's Catholic high schools are now under surveillance when they walk through the halls.
The school board has installed video cameras in all its secondary schools.
"It is common in schools in Ontario to tie in with Safe Schools (legislation)," said Tim Robins, assistant superintendent of facilities at the Durham Catholic District School Board.
The board installed cameras at seven high schools and in the board offices. The closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras went online this fall and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
They monitor public areas such as hallways, stairwells and the outside of the school building, Mr. Robins said. Classrooms and private areas such as washrooms and change rooms are not under surveillance.
Mr. Robins said he thinks they've been a success so far in improving school safety.
"From a school principal's perspective, it's helped in day-to-day operations."
They also deter illicit activity after hours, he said. For example, they can capture vandalism incidents.
"It helps to reduce that and assists the police in investigations."
At Monday's Catholic school board meeting, trustees approved the first reading of updated policies and procedures for video surveillance systems.
Among the issues addressed are who can access the surveillance in the schools (principals and vice-principals only) and the fact they can't be used to monitor staff performance.
The procedures also say cameras must never monitor areas where students and staff have a higher expectation of privacy, such as change rooms and washrooms, and that the cameras can only be used to monitor safety and detect criminal activity or vandalism.
The schools must post notices in the areas where the surveillance is occurring, letting staff, students and the public know about it. Recorded information will be retained for at least 28 and up to 42 days.
Police must submit a written request to the board if they want to view the footage.
Now that it's passed the first reading at the board, the policy and administrative procedure for the surveillance will be sent out to the schools and parent councils for comment, Mr. Robins said.
At the board meeting, Oshawa Trustee Fred Jones asked to what extent the policies complied with privacy guidelines.
Mr. Robins responded they meet the Ontario Privacy Commissioner's guidelines 100 per cent for surveillance cameras in public places and their guidelines for cameras in schools. They also meet the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act with regard to the collection of personal information.
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