Security cameras similar to this one in the Ooltewah Elementary School office are being installed in 64 Hamilton County schools.When Catoosa County's elementary school students return in the fall, they will be a little bit safer at school, says the district's Director of Operations Doug Suits.
Video surveillance cameras are going up at all 10 public elementary schools in Catoosa County, thus providing a safety net like the middle and high schools already have, he said.
"They can look at people coming in," said Suits. "Administrators can look at doors or parking lots. The cameras are currently being installed. It should be finished by the end of [June]."
Each school is getting three cameras paid for entirely through the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
"It is three cameras per school with the [network video recorder] digital recorder capable of 16 cameras," Suits said. "We will work on adding more cameras with the next ESPLOST. We will put in three basic cameras now, but we can accommodate more when we are able to put them in."
He estimates the total package should cost approximately $68,000.