Introduction to Broward Schools’ Camera Program
The Broward County school district is expected to reinstate cameras in special-needs classrooms to help parents determine if their child has been abused or mistreated at school. This program, which was last used during the 2023-24 school year, allowed parents to request cameras be placed in their children’s Exceptional Student Education classrooms.
History of the Program
The idea behind the program is to provide an added layer of safety for special-needs students who may have difficulty communicating what happened at school. Many special-needs students are non-verbal or may have difficulty expressing themselves, which can be particularly troubling if a child comes home from school agitated or bearing a bruise. At the urging of some Broward parents, the state Legislature agreed in 2021 to designate Broward as the site of a three-year pilot county for the program. As long as one parent requested it, a camera was installed in the classroom. From 2021 to 2024, the district received 320 camera-installation requests and 32 parent requests to view footage.
Pilot Program Outcomes
At least a couple of viewings revealed troubling behavior, including one child spending 27 hours in the bathroom, or 57% of school hours over an eight-day period. A parent complaint led to a state review. However, the pilot program ended a year ago, and the cameras, while still installed, were not activated during the 2024-25 school year.
Revival of the Program
Some parents of special-needs students have been urging the district for the past year to bring the program back, and most School Board members voiced support for that during a Tuesday workshop, with a provision that parents will be allowed to opt out. It’s expected to come back for a formal vote at the July 22 School Board meeting.
“Peace of mind is really at the heart of this,” Jacqui Luscombe, chairwoman of the district’s Exceptional Student Education Advisory Council, told the South Florida Sun Sentinel. “It’s an added layer of safety for students who can’t verbalize for themselves. These cameras provide the eyes and ears in the case of an incident where it’s going to be important to establish facts.”
Implementation and Costs
It’s unclear whether the program will be fully functional by the start of the school year on Aug. 11. District spokesman John Sullivan said the district will begin implementation prior to the new school year starting. The district has 300 cameras from the pilot program but would need about 1,000 more to cover the 1,300 classrooms that were eligible for a camera. The cost ranges from $2 million to $2.4 million, the difference being whether the district wants to buy enough storage space to keep the videos for 90 days instead of 30.
Legal Considerations
A Florida statute allows surveillance video to be taken without permission, but states that the purpose is “protecting the facility and general safety.” The special education classroom recordings are about protecting students’ rights and their well-being, and is something not contemplated by that statute. The district drafted a policy that will prohibit a classroom from using the camera if a parent of any student in the class objects.
Conclusion
The Broward County school district’s decision to reinstate cameras in special-needs classrooms is a step towards providing an added layer of safety for special-needs students. The program has shown promising results in the past, and its revival is expected to bring peace of mind to parents of special-needs students. With the district’s commitment to implementing the program, Broward County is setting an example for other school districts to follow.
FAQs
Q: What is the purpose of the camera program in Broward schools?
A: The purpose of the camera program is to provide an added layer of safety for special-needs students who may have difficulty communicating what happened at school.
Q: How many camera-installation requests were received during the pilot program?
A: The district received 320 camera-installation requests during the pilot program.
Q: What is the estimated cost of implementing the program?
A: The estimated cost of implementing the program ranges from $2 million to $2.4 million.
Q: Can parents opt out of the program?
A: Yes, parents will be allowed to opt out of the program.
Q: When is the program expected to be fully functional?
A: It’s unclear whether the program will be fully functional by the start of the school year on Aug. 11, but the district will begin implementation prior to the new school year starting.
