Caledonia Argus

Surveillance camera system coming to school

Posted: 4/27/04

By David Heiller
Argus News Editor

Twenty two new cameras will be added to Caledonia Middle/School next year in an effort to improve student safety.

The school board unanimously approved a proposal at its April 19 meeting by high school principal Cory Klabunde to have the new camera system installed.

The system from BAN-KOE Companies, which has an office in La Crescent, will cost $20,210. The motion stipulated that quotes be obtained from local electricians instead of using Kish Electric, as BAN-KOE recommended.

The proposal will add 18 cameras to the inside of the building and four to the outside. The building already has five cameras. The system will store images for a month, and will be accessible through computers.

Board members Suzanne Roesler said she wanted to see another analog-type bid from another company like BAN-KOE. Charlie Wray wanted to see a spec sheet on the project. The motion passed 6-0, so that will not happen. Mary Frank was absent from the meeting.

The reason for the new camera system has to do with a school district initiative for bullying and harassment, Klabunde told The Argus on April 23. ìThis will be one deterrent.î

It will document things like fights, vandalism, and stealing.ìItís going to make this building a better place,î he said.

The school district doesnít want to be intrusive but it needs to protect students that need protecting, Klabunde added.

The outside cameras are primarily to help parents feel comfortable when students from the three elementary school change buses.

ï New parking rules: The school board also agreed with a recommendation from Walter ìMacî Macomber, the City of Caledoniaís fire marshal, to ban parking by the sidewalk in front of the school.

Macomber told the board that a fire lane is needed, because cars parked next to the sidewalk at big events like football games would block emergency vehicles if they were needed.

He recommended painting the curb red and putting up no parking signs. Eight signs would be needed, and would cost $18.50 through the city. The city would provide the poles.

ï Good test scores: Board members praised the results of eighth grade test scores,in which 90 percent of the students passed in math and 91 percent passed in reading.

Middle school principal Brian Doty gave a written report which showed that Caledonia students had higher scores than seven other local school districts.

Doty cautioned that those scores vary over the years, especially with small class sizes.

Board chairman Dave Klinski said that the district should advertise the positive results of the test. ìThis is what parents look at,î he said. ìThis is just like driving

a a bus into another district, only more powerful.î

ìI felt kind of good when I read that,î board member Chuck Schulte agreed. He asked that the board send a letter to teachers praising them for their work.

ï Seniors last day: The administration is discussing when the last day of school for this yearís seniors will be. It is set to be Tuesday, June 1, which is five days before graduation ceremonies on Sunday, June 6 at 1:30.

Klabunde recommended that the seniorsí last day be moved to Friday, May 28, because they would only be going to school for one day that last week, and it would be unproductive.

Tool disagreed, saying that there will always be a last day that is unproductive. Schulte and Roesler said there might be a safety issue if the students have a whole week off before graduation.

ìLet the cattle out of the pasture, youíll never get them back,î Klinski said, which drew laughter and met the boardís requirement of at least one farm metaphor at every meeting.

The discussion ended with the board directing the administration to work out when the last day will be.

ï Coaching request: The board did not take action on a recommendation from athletic director Ken Van Den Boom to hire a junior high girls soccer coach and a junior high boysí and girlsí track coach for next year. The cost would be about $3,000.

Schulte said the board still needed to cut $30,000 to $40,00 from next yearís budget. Superintendent Jim Tool recommended that the board wait until the end of this year to see how the budget looks, because they would have time to do it later this summer.

ï New running trail: Board members discussed the need for walking/running trail behind the school in an area that has been planted in prairie grasses. It would be used by runners for athletic training, and the community could use it too, Wray said. Tool said he would put it as a high priority in the capital outlay budget.

Tool said that an irrigation system is needed for the football field. He said it would save in labor, and the $11,500 price tag would pay for itself in 5-10 years. Board members agreed to have him seek out contractors for this.

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