Franklin BOC Approves Upgrade of Security Cameras in All Schools

The Franklin County Board of Education has voted to allocate $51,000 from SPLOST funds for the purchase of a new video security camera service for all of the schools.

Board members voted unanimously to approve the allocation at their regular meeting this week.

At their work session last week, Assistant Superintendent of Operations Carl Dekker told Board members there is some extra money in SPLOST V they could use for new cameras along with a $50,000 grant from the State specifically for school security.

Dekker added that when his office asked principals what they wanted all of them said more surveillance cameras on school campuses are needed.

Currently, the school system uses two separate servers for their video surveillance, one for the high school and one for the middle and elementary schools which are becoming outdated.

Dekker said the school system’s network provider Cirrus proposed two different software/camera systems both at a cost of $300,000.

However, he recommended the second proposal from a company called Verkada System, which he said offered the best features for the money.

At their regular meeting, School Board Chair Robin Cato said she liked the clarity of the video Verkada provides as well as the license tag recognition feature.

Dekker said under the 5-year warranty, if one of the cameras fails Cirrus would replace it with the latest model camera.

The Verkada system will be paid for with $250,000 in grant money plus the $51,000 from SPLOST V.

After hearing from Dekker Tuesday night the Board voted unanimously to purchase the Verkada Surveillance system.