As each school year begins, many students can expect new changes made to the campus. However, despite the school year already starting, one teacher recently brought to light an idea that might be a late inclusion within this set of new changes at East Meck.
Most, if not all, students here at East will at one point take a class within all of the buildings. One thing to note about these buildings and East as a whole, is that every door is locked once the final bell rings. While this is done for obvious security reasons, it may potentially cause issues, which is exactly what coach Clinton Koppe has proposed a solution to.
After the 4000 building was made, Koppe was designated to teach inside the new building. Koppe quickly recognized the issue of students needing to come in and out of the building without disrupting class time. A fairly simple solution that was found was doorbell cameras, which allow people easier access to the buildings without waiting for long periods of time to get into the building. Additionally, the idea has been presented to former principal Rick Parker and assistant principal Joel Edde.
The cameras work by having a security guard download the given brand’s app (Ring, Amazon, etc), and be assigned to answer the app in a specific building, answering any potential students ringing the camera and either choosing to allow or disallow access to the building. With additional security staff, the idea could be fully tested.
With more security staff here at East, as well as the cameras, East would benefit massively, due to the added security of both personnel and cameras allowing for greater monitoring and overall safety.
However, some other points to bring up around the idea of having security cameras is the fact that there may be potential setbacks and issues associated with them.
First and foremost; the cost, and how the school would obtain the funding for the cameras and payroll for more security staff. Second is the installations could require more money to be spent, as well as further time sunk into the cameras. Lastly, is potential factors outside of the control of security staff, such as vandalism, obstruction of view, battery charge, etc.
With the downsides in mind, the cost of installing these cameras, and any other miscellaneous costs, these cameras may cost around $100 dollars per, with the cameras surveying 10-12 doors, without the cost of labor and installation these cameras may cost up between $1000 to $1400. In spite of that, the trade off of additional security, as well as the ability for people to get into and out of buildings easier far outweighs the downsides.
East should fully go through with implementing these security cameras, but to ensure they will be successful, a trial run would be helpful for assurance. Implementing these cameras in the 4000 and 5000 buildings would be a starting point to ensure effective use. As well as having additional security personnel employed at the school would ensure that every building is covered and maintained, as was pointed out to me by Arderrick Fant. If the plan goes through and the trial of the 4000 and 5000 goes smoothly, I believe that these cameras could go on every door and allow for a smoother, safer and overall better experience here in East.
