School security equipment, once a subject of heated debates over cost and efficiency in Harford County, has gradually been beefed up to the point where most areas inside and outside individual Harford County Public Schools buildings are monitored on camera.
During the past decade, the school system has installed an extensive video surveillance system that has grown to more than 2,000 security cameras in and around its 54 schools and other facilities.
Each camera system cost tens of thousands of dollars to install, and maintenance of the system runs to six figures annually.
The Harford Board of Education Monday approved the most recent maintenance contract for the cameras and other system components, $205,000 with Skyline Technology Solutions, of Glen Burnie.
According to the agreement, Skyline will maintain, service and provide equipment for HCPS video surveillance systems.
The existing maintenance agreement with Skyline ends July 13. The new, $205,000, one-year agreement lasts from July 14 through July 13, 2016. The pact was approved on a 9-0 board vote without discussion.
For those 2,000-plus cameras, Skyline provides software updates and maintenance, site map updates, system checks and any additional cameras and equipment at a discount, according a school board report.
Cameras can be found inside and outside buildings, depending on the needs of each facility, the school system's security chief said.
"Since each site is unique we conducted site assessments and worked with the school administrator, contractor and Safety and Security to establish camera locations," Bob Benedetto, the school system's chief of security, explained in an email.
He said installation costs vary, depending on the individual building's system, including the number of cameras and the distance between cameras and servers.
"A camera system in an elementary school ranges from $40,000 to $60,000 whereas a high school may cost $50,000 to $120,000," Benedetto said.
Security cameras were installed beginning in 2004. The county's high schools got them first, Benedetto said.
"As a base, we began with 32 cameras," Benedetto said.
Older cameras will also be scheduled for a "refresh," or replacement with newer hardware, as needed, he said.
Lunch price increase
The school board Monday also approved a 10-cent increase in the price of school lunches for the next academic year.
The increase accounts for rising food and milk prices reflected in federal and state reimbursement rates.
Prepaid lunches will increase from $2 to $2.10 for elementary school students and from $2.10 to $2.20 for middle and high school students.
Lunches for students eligible for reduced-price meals will remain the same at 40 cents. The cost of prepaid breakfast will remain the same at $1.05 for elementary and secondary students, or 20 cents for reduced-price breakfast, according school board documents.
Board member Joseph Hau missed Monday's meeting with an excused absence.