A pair of new initiatives implemented by Fulton County Schools will go along way in keeping intruders off campus and keeping students safe.
First, the district has installed exit door stopper alarms on the exterior doors at all Fulton County High Schools. The alarms alert school administrators to any improper opening of exits while still allowing emergency use.
The school system will be installing the stopper alarms at elementary and middle schools by the end of October.
The school board also approved buying Flock Safety cameras that can read license plates of cars entering school campuses at all schools in the district.
The cameras capture computer-readable images of license plates, allowing law enforcement agencies to compare plate numbers against those of stolen cars or cars driven by people suspected of being involved in criminal activities.
According to school officials, the cameras capture license plates and vehicle characteristics, not people or faces, and send real-time alerts to law enforcement when a vehicle associated with a wanted suspect or endangered person passes the camera.
“Our goal is to ensure that everyone feels safe on their school campus,” said Superintendent Mike Looney. “We are constantly thinking about ways to secure our campuses and protect students and staff, while protecting their privacy.”
Any captured camera data will be owned by Fulton County Schools and will never be sold or shared with third parties, except in situations where it is shared with other law enforcement agencies, school officials say. Camera data and footage is encrypted, stored in a cloud, and permanently deleted after 30 days.
The license plate reading cameras will be used to maintain a safe campus and are not intended for minor traffic or parking violations.
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