Liberty Middle School Interior Video Monitoring Information

Liberty Middle School is considering installing internal cameras, as part of the FCPS effort to have security cameras in all secondary schools. The Liberty Middle School administrative team believes that internal cameras will increase the ability to maintain the safety of all students, staff members and visitors within the building. Internal cameras will only be placed in the high traffic areas, and will not be placed in classrooms, locker rooms or restrooms.

The effectiveness of internal video monitoring has been shown to reduce theft and vandalism, as well as aid administrators in timely and accurate determinations in student/staff and building incidents. 77% of all public high schools currently use security cameras to monitor schools (Indicators of School Crime and Safety, U.S. Department of Justice and Education, November 2010). Locally, the school divisions that utilize interior video surveillance include the Maryland divisions of Frederick County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. In Virginia, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Stafford, and Culpepper School divisions utilize interior cameras. Within Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) all high schools.

Interior cameras are not meant to be an invasion of privacy, but an additional layer of security in a complex world in which we live. They are considered fundamental to school security programs. Cameras will not be personally monitored, but footage would be available for review up to 30 days in case of an incident. The only persons who would see the video are FCPS staff who need to review and use the images in the course of their official duties. This is typically security and administration. Parents may view images only of their own student and may not have copies of footage. Parents will be notified if a video has been reviewed specifically regarding their son/daughter.

The installation of interior cameras at Liberty has been funded by the FY 22 budget and grants received by the OSS. The funding for the project is in the proposed 2020-21 FCPS budget, and does not require Liberty Middle School funds currently. Therefore, there should be no impact on instructional funds. 

Feedback on the proposal will be gathered from students, staff and community members through various means:

• General faculty and staff will be surveyed April 14th through April 22nd. 
• Leadership (Administration, Department Chairs, Team Leads, and CLT Leads) will look over survey results and concerns on April 26th. 
• Student Government Association (SGA) and Representatives will be surveyed through Google Classroom on April 20th during their weekly meeting.  Their survey results and concerns will also be shared and discussed with the Leadership team on April 26th.    
• Parents and community members will be surveyed. Information will be sent out in the parent newsletter (The Ledger) on 4/13 and information will be shared at the 4/20 PTA meeting. If you are unable to attend and would like to submit feedback, please fill out the Camera Installation Input Form. You may also email Greg Hall at @email with your comments/concerns. 

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will the video cameras be monitored continuously? No, they will not be routinely monitored, but rather, will be reviewed after an incident occurs. Security personnel in the office of safety and security may access video cameras and images when necessary for their official duties. An example is a school alarm after hours.

 

• How long will the images be retained? By regulation, they must be stored for at least 14 days and not more than 30 days.

 

• Who can view the images? FCPS staff who need to review and use the images in the course of their official duties may do so. This is typically limited to administrators, security personnel and personnel engaged in disciplinary reviews. The School Resource Officers and the School Liaison Commander are allowed to view the images because they are considered school officials, however no other police personnel are permitted. Parents may view images of their own students. When a video involves more than one student, the parents of any student who is a primary subject of the video may review the recording but may not have a copy. Parents of students who are in the background do not have a right to view the recording. Employees may view images in which they are the subject.

 

• Who will these videos be released to? Disclosure of student images to individuals or organizations outside FCPS may be made only with parent consent (or student consent if the student is 18 years of age or older), in response to subpoena, search warrant or court order, in connection with a health or safety emergency, in response to legal action against the system, or consistent with one of the other exceptions to the disclosure ban in the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act regulations.

 

• What is the funding source? FY 22 mid-year budget review resulted in funding for the installation of interior and exterior cameras (CCTV) at all remaining middle schools. Additionally, the Office of Safety and Security received grant funding for 2 middle schools. The funding for the project does not require Liberty Middle School funds and there should be no impact on instructional funds. 

 

• If you obtain interior video surveillance, what reporting does the school have to do? Schools that are granted permission to utilize ongoing interior video monitoring are required to submit data regarding the number of incidents in specific areas of the schools in which cameras have been installed and the number of successful investigations of incidents using video recordings. Successful means that the video was helpful in determining what happened in an incident. The Student Information System has an input field for camera use as it relates to discipline cases. Additionally, the superintendent is required to annually report to the School Board incident and survey data collected regarding the effectiveness of ongoing interior video monitoring.

 

• Are the cameras effective? The experience of FCPS with video surveillance strongly suggests that their use resulted in significant reductions in vandalism at schools that used the systems, as well as aid administrators in timely and accurate determinations in student/staff and building incidents

 

• Do other school systems use interior video surveillance? Seventy-seven percent of all public high schools use security cameras to monitor schools (Indicators of School Crime and Safety, U.S. Departments of Justice and Education, November, 2010). Locally, the school divisions that utilize interior video surveillance include the Maryland divisions of Frederick County, Montgomery County and Prince George’s County. In Virginia, Alexandria, Loudoun, Prince William, Fauquier, Stafford, Culpepper and Alexandria school divisions utilize interior cameras. Washington D.C. also uses them.