GEORGIA SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS HELP CATCH COMPUTER THIEVES AT SCHOOL Macon Telegraph | 08/04/2005 | New safety features in place at schoolsFrom a high-tech electronic school-bus tracking system to crime tip lines and surveillance cameras, midstate school leaders say they're working harder to keep students safe.

New this year are tougher punishments for unruly bus riders in Bibb County, a global positioning satellite system that tracks the movement of Houston County buses and cameras keeping an eye on students in the new Bleckley County High.

"We value the safety of the kids," said Len Hindsman, Bibb County schools assistant superintendent of operations. "We've really made an effort in the area of safety and security for the student."

In Bibb, the new bus rules surfaced in June, following reports of several discipline problems and bus drivers complaining to the school board.

"Our goal was to ensure students respected the bus driver and behaved so that student safety on the bus would be enhanced," Hindsman said. "I feel we have really improved safety on the buses for the kids."

Bibb has installed cameras on all buses, and cameras and alarm systems are in the majority of the system's schools, Hindsman said.

The alarm systems are linked to campus police, and police can access the cameras, he said.

A new philosophy in Bibb is widening the school system's safety net, said David Gowen, student safety manager.

"Our philosophy is that we consider the bus and the bus stop to be extensions of the school campus,"
Gowen said. "The rules that apply at the school also apply to the bus and bus stop."

In Houston County, school buses have gone high tech.

Frank Scott, school system transportation director, said the entire fleet of 150 buses is now equipped with satellite equipment to keep track of where buses are on their routes and when they are stopped.

The school system spent $136,877 for the added safety measure, Houston school officials said.

"School principals can also find out through their computers where the buses are because the data is updated every two minutes," Scott said.

While people don't want to think about the possibility of a bus being hijacked, school systems should be prepared for the worst, he said.

"If (a hijacking) happens, we'll be able to immediately locate the bus," Scott said. "It's better to err on the side of safety."



At Bleckley County High School, 43 cameras will view students in high-traffic areas such as hallways, the gym and the band room.

The surveillance equipment cost the school system $45,000, Superintendent L.C. "Buster" Evans said.

"Most of us behave better when someone else is watching. It's true for kids, it's true for adults," Evans said. "This will prevent (bad behavior). ... If something does happen, we will have evidence for quick resolutions."

The digital cameras are monitored by a school resource officer and can be accessed online by school administrators from office computers, he said.

In both Houston and Bibb schools, promotional football-shaped keychains, banners and posters encourage students to call Student CrimeStoppers if they witness or suspect a crime on campus.

It's another avenue to prevent school problems and keep students safe, said Warren Selby, CrimeStoppers board chairman.

The program, in its first year in Houston and Bibb schools, was approved by both school boards this spring.

"Kids are the eyes and ears of their school. For whatever reason, pride in the school ... they want their school to be safe," Selby said.

So far, a few school property thefts and school vandalism reports already have been reported. For example, the first major student tip during the summer led to arrests in the case of more than $30,000 worth of stolen computer equipment at Houston County High School, Selby said.

Because of this program, "kids are going to be watching what they do," he said. "It creates another level of awareness."


To contact Jake Jacobs, call 923-6199, extension 305, or e-mail jjacobs@macontel.com. To contact Julie Hubbard, call 744-4331 or e-mail jhubbard@macontel.com.