Boston Latin School will finish the installation of over 100 new security cameras by 2025 as part of a district-wide policy approved by the Boston City Council in 2021.
Construction workers are currently installing electrical wires, and they will begin attaching the cameras in four to five weeks. Before this policy was passed, several dozen cameras operated in the interior of BLS, but they had blind spots. The new cameras will provide live footage of the exterior of the school building, as well as increase surveillance inside.
According to the 2023 City of Boston Annual Surveillance Report, Boston Public Schools spent 1,809,412 dollars on cameras and cabling installation in 2023 with the goal of strengthening the security for students and staff members. All cameras were acquired before 2021, and this ongoing BPS policy allots a budget of 6 million dollars over a five-year period.
At BLS, administrators will not be constantly monitoring the cameras; instead, the cameras will act as supplementary tools to replay footage if a school-based incident occurs.
BLS Director of Operations Ms. Jesse Kwan notes, “It adds a layer of sort of comfort for me that, you know, we do have eyes, and we are able to go back and look at whatever it is that we need to look at.”
The new cameras will increase surveillance inside the building by providing continuous live action video. Despite the improved safety, the policy has faced backlash regarding the privacy of students while it was passed.
Cynthia Wang (II) shares, “I know it can be a source of anxiety feeling that you are constantly monitored. Hopefully [they] can just focus on learning and their day-to-day lives.”
Ultimately, the district hopes that the installation of these new cameras can help deter intruders and minimize outside threats. BPS rates the effectiveness of the new cameras a ‘four out of five’ on this ability.
BPS Chief Operating Officer Mr. Brian Forde Jr. adds, “The installation of cameras provides ways to identify intruders and feedback after an incident that really helps keep our general staff and students more secure. […] We need to continue to build trust that these are a tool of safety.”
As a result of the requests made for the public records of the new cameras, the Boston City Council Committee on Public Safety and Criminal Justice ordered a hearing on December 5. Participants will include representatives from BPS, the Department of Innovation and Technology and the Boston Police Department. Members of the public can attend to learn more about the specific use case and data of the new cameras.
BLS, however, has not received any complaints or requests regarding the new cameras, and administrators are optimistic about the benefits. Head of School Jason Gallagher concludes, “I think it’s comforting to me to know that we can have a better role in our surrounding community and make sure that not only that our students are safe, but we can be a part of a community that’s a little bit safer.”