An upgraded security camera system and random drug testing will be considered by the county school system during Friday’s board meeting.
Stephen Carpenter, vice-president of security for Columbus-based North Atlantic Security, will make a presentation to the board about the cameras.
If the board accepts Carpenter’s proposal, Lowndes County will be the first to take advantage of the company’s new service. He said the monitoring system should be installed at North Atlantic’s offices by the end of this week or early next week.
Although video surveillance cameras are installed at all the schools, North Atlantic offers 24/7 monitoring, which the district does not currently have. They will also be able to take advantage of the latest in security technology, replacing or updating an “antiquated” system, Carpenter said.
The proposal will allow for using or upgrading existing equipment or replacing it. Services will be offered on a 36 or 60-month subscription plan.
Standard monitoring will be available, such as the ability to pan or zoom cameras from the control center, but principals or administrators may also be given an iPad which will allow them to log into the system at any time and see the same view being shown on monitors at the control center.
“We’re offering modern technology in a different format than what’s been offered before,” Carpenter said. “Before, a school system had to pay $30,000 to $50,000 for hardware, and by the time they got it booted up, it was outdated.”
He said the Starkville City School District is also considering implementing the service.
North Atlantic security has provided state-certified school resource officers at each of the schools within the Lowndes County School District since 2007. Carpenter said the district initially had 13 officers but has dropped to 10 in recent years.
One officer is assigned to each of the district’s nine schools except New Hope Middle School, which has two officers.
The board will also consider a proposal for on-site drug testing of students and employees.
Jerome Nettles, of Advanced Screening Solutions, will make a presentation to explain the procedure. The company, which has offices in Tupelo and Flowood, can test by urine collection, hair follicles or saliva swabs.
LCSD Superintendent Lynn Wright said the county school system does not currently use random drug testing but the services Advanced Screening Solutions offers are being used on many campuses.
The board meeting will be held 11 a.m. Friday at the Central Office at 1053 Highway 45 South.
Carmen K. Sisson is the former news editor at The Dispatch.
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