Montrose looking at bus cameras

BY STACI WILSON

The majority of discipline issues coming to Montrose elementary principals stem from incidents on school buses.

Choconut Valley Principal Chris McComb told the school board Monday night that over half of the discipline referrals come from the buses, more than the combined incidents from the playground, cafeteria or other school related areas.

Lathrop Street Principal Greg Adams said he has handled over 200 discipline referrals from buses this year.

Boyce said teachers are told to never turn their backs on a class, but bus drivers are required to pilot a 72-passenger vehicle safely while maintaining order on that bus.

The board is looking into outfitting buses with cameras that can pick up both video and audio – both principals said that doing so would be beneficial. The Pennsylvania School Code allows for both the video and audio taping, according to Superintendent Carol Boyce.

Currently, four buses have single cameras – of those four, only two are currently operational. The principals told the board that accessing the systems on those buses was cumbersome, requiring a key to get into the “black box,” another key to access the camera, and then the physical removal of the hard drive from the system before a tape can be reviewed.

Administrators, as well as board members, said the installation of the cameras would also act as a deterrent. Adams said that very few problems occur in the areas of the school where cameras are installed.

“We instruct teachers to never turn their backs to the students, our bus drivers need help with that process,” Boyce said.

Boyce suggested phasing cameras in this year, as the budget allows; then completing the remainder of the buses in the coming year.

Technology Coordinator Craig Owens said he preferred the district complete the proposed camera project in a consistent manner with like technology used in all of the buses.

Board member Pam Staats questioned some of the maintenance aspects of the camera systems.

“How do you know if it’s working?” she questioned. She suggested spot checking the equipment after its initial installation.

Board president Dog Wilcox said, “It’s important all the drivers understand the objective is to provide safe transportation. Our concerns are not about the drivers but the safety of the children (on the bus).”

At the board reorganization, Wilcox was elected president; and Karl Wimmer was elected vice-president.