5131.11R Surveillance on School Property

5131.11R

                                                                                STUDENTS

                         SURVEILLANCE ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

The following rules shall apply to video surveillance:

   1.   The district shall notify its students, their parents/guardians and its staff that
        video surveillance may occur on any school property. The district shall
        incorporate said notice in the student handbook and District’s Policy Handbook.
        Signs shall be posted at each building with video cameras.
   2.   The use of surveillance equipment on school property and on other district
        property shall be supervised and controlled by the building administrator/
        designee or district transportation coordinator, as applicable.
   3.   The use of recordings from surveillance equipment shall be subject to the other
        policies of the district including policies concerning the confidentiality of
        student and personnel records.
   4.   Surveillance shall be used only to promote the order, safety and security of
        students, staff and property and to assist school administrators in deciding
        upon appropriate disciplinary action.


Student Records

   1. The district will comply with laws regarding student records requirements
      including the Family Education and Privacy Act and the Education of All
      Handicapped Children Act of 1975 as applicable in the district’s use of
      recordings. Recordings considered for retention, as part of the student’s
      behavioral record will be maintained in accordance with established student
      record procedures governing their access, review and release.


Staff Records

   1. Video recordings considered for retention as part of the employee’s personnel
      record will be maintained in accordance with established Board personnel
      policies, administrative regulations and labor agreements governing access,
      review and release of employee personnel records.




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Storage Security

   1. All recordings will be stored and secured in accordance with established Board
      record retention policies.
   2. Recording will be stored for not more than sixty days after initial recording,
      whereupon such recordings will be released for erasure.
   3. Recordings held for review of student or staff incident will be maintained in their
      original form pending resolution. The tape will then be either released for
      erasure or retained as necessary as a part of the student’s discipline record and
      or employee’s personnel record in accordance with the established district
      procedures.


Viewing Requests

   1. Requests for viewing video recordings will be limited to the appropriate vehicle
      driver, transportation coordinator, school administrator, parent/guardian or
      student 18 or older or others as deemed appropriate by the transportation
      coordinator or superintendent/designee. Requests for viewing will be limited to
      those parents/guardians, students and/or district officials with a direct interest
      in the proceedings deemed appropriate by the superintendent/designee. The
      district’s School Resource Officer may also review the video at the request of a
      school administrator who requests assistance for determination of school policy
      violation and/or criminal behavior.
   2. Requests for viewing may be made to the Director of Operations, principal, or
      superintendent designee.
   3. Only the portion of the video recording concerning a specific incident(s) will be
      made available for viewing.


Viewing

   1. Actual viewing will only be permitted at school related sites, including the
      transportation office, schools, and district office or as otherwise required by law.
   2. All viewing will include the transportation coordinator and/or a school
      administrator.
   3. Recordings remain the property of the district and may be reproduced only in
      accordance with law, including applicable district student records policy and
      procedures and applicable labor agreements.




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Legal Reference:    Connecticut General Statutes

                    10-221 Boards of Education to prescribe rules

                    Education of the Handicapped Act of 1975, as amended

                    Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

                    Family Education Rights and Privacy Act


Regulation adopted: April 17, 2012
Revised:            July 14, 2020


COLCHESTER PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Colchester, Connecticut




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