West Seneca presents Smart Schools plan to install middle‑school security cameras
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Summary
District staff reviewed a Smart Schools Investment Plan for middle‑school high‑tech security cameras, reporting $602,651 remaining in the district allocation and saying a board resolution will be considered in May to file the plan with the state.
Staff member (Presenter) told the West Seneca Central School District board that the district’s second Smart Schools application is the formal follow‑up required 30 days after the initial presentation and that the plan focuses on high‑tech security camera upgrades at the middle schools.
The plan matters because the Smart Schools Bond Act funds reimburse districts for technology and security projects; the presenter said West Seneca’s total Smart Schools allocation was about $4,200,000 and that the district’s first Smart Schools project — largely network and communication upgrades — was completed at “a little under $3,600,000” and has been fully reimbursed by the state.
District staff said remaining Smart Schools funds total $602,651 and that Young and Wright have been engaged to prepare the architectural and engineering designs the state requires for approval. The presenter said vendor Stark, procured on a state contract, will supply cameras; a final deployment plan will be developed with building administrators and school resource officers. The presenter said: “We would anticipate the state education department approval, in early 20 26 with installation completed in the summer of 20 26.”
Staff also reported other concurrent security work: a 2023 capital project budgeted $1,200,000 for security upgrades (bids for that project were approved earlier in the meeting, staff said) and a Dormitory Authority of the State of New York grant was used to upgrade camera systems at West and East Senior High School; those Dormitory Authority‑funded upgrades are “very near completion” and reimbursement is expected within about 30 days, the presenter said.
Board members praised the camera upgrades. One board member said the “camera upgrades are phenomenal” and that the image quality is useful for incident resolution; another asked whether footage could be shown to students as a deterrent. The presenter replied that staff already brings students in to show footage when appropriate. A board member asked whether the public hearing for the plan would be posted separately from the regular board meeting; staff said the district could either post the entire meeting with a linked subsection or list the public hearing separately.
The presenter said the district solicited public comment by email and in writing and that, to date, “I have received no comments, whatsoever.” The next step explained to the board was adoption of a resolution at the May meeting to accept the investment plan and allow the district to file it with the State Education Department.
No formal vote on the Smart Schools Investment Plan occurred at this meeting; staff said a resolution would be presented for board action at the May meeting.
