By SANDY McGEE

CUMBERLAND — The Cumberland School Committee is currently working on a camera surveillance system policy, which officials plan to possibly implement this fall at the high school.

Ten video cameras, which only record visual images and no audio, were previously installed throughout the high school campus, both inside and outside of buildings.
Those cameras will not be activated until the School Committee adopts a surveillance policy, said Superintendent of Schools Donna A. Morelle.
“It (the surveillance system) is very important, not just for the safety of our students, employees and the public, but also for the assets in the building and the newly purchased materials,” said Morelle.
The School Committee presented a first reading of the policy at its meeting on Thursday night at the high school.
The policy was unanimously approved in a previously held meeting of the Rules and Regulation Sub-Committee. After several questions were raised about the first reading, the School Committee sent the policy back to the subcommittee for a revision.
According to the first reading of the proposed policy, the “cameras shall only be placed in public areas, such as hallways, classrooms, athletic areas, parking lots and public walkways. The surveillance system cameras shall not be placed in areas where there may be a reasonable expectation of privacy by staff and students.”
Examples of such areas where cameras will not be placed include restrooms, locker rooms, private offices, conference rooms and staff lounges.
Also, according to the first reading, “signs will be posted in public entryways to the buildings and at other conspicuous locations informing persons that the buildings and grounds may be under video surveillance. The posted signs will read: ‘Surveillance Cameras in Use.’
“The district shall notify students, staff and the general public that video surveillance will occur on school property through use of the signage and other appropriate notifications including a notice in the student handbook.
“The use of video surveillance equipment on school grounds shall be supervised by the superintendent or designee. Only individuals authorized by the superintendent or designee may view the surveillance recordings.
“Information obtained through video surveillance may only be used for disciplinary investigations, security and law enforcement purposes. No sound is to be monitored or recorded in connection with the video surveillance system.” 
The video images will be maintained for 30 days or a period of time approved by the superintendent. All recordings will be treated as confidential and not released unless through subpoena or other court order, according to the policy.
The superintendent, according to the policy, shall approve any modifications to the system. The School Committee will be notified about those changes, according to the policy.
The cameras were installed as part of the CHS 2010 project. The high school previously had no video surveillance system in place, according to the superintendent.
The funding of the camera’s purchase and installation was supported in part by a federal Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant, received by the Cumberland Police Department, said Morelle. COPS grants are awarded nationally to provide funding to law enforcement agencies to assist with the development of school safety resources and provide improved security at schools and on school grounds.