Executive Director for Operations Rick Ring and ITS Director Brad Pierce updated the board on a districtwide surveillance camera project the board approved in 2024 and that the district is implementing in five phases to standardize camera systems and improve reliability.

Ring said the initiative started as a response to inconsistent, aging installations that lacked standardized quality and central viewing capability. He summarized prior work: early installations in the 2000s were uneven; newer schools built after 2008 included more standard cameras; in 2023 the superintendent requested a districtwide standardization plan and board policy 66.10 was updated in 2024.

Ring said the estimated project cost provided during planning was about $7,000,000 and that the district is now in phase 4 of a five‑phase plan. Staff reported phase 3 installations are near completion and that phase 4 will be advertised for bids late November with an estimated cost for phase 4 of roughly $2,200,000 plus taxes; staff plan to bring a recommendation to the board at the Dec. 8 meeting. Ring confirmed capital projects funds are the source of this work.

Directors asked about camera placement and privacy limits. Staff said cameras are placed in common areas but not in locker rooms or learning spaces and that the district has an agreement with unions prohibiting cameras in learning spaces. Staff described use cases for safety, asset preservation and investigative support after hours. Brad Pierce said the team is working with principals on camera location maps prior to bidding.

Board members asked about lifecycle planning. Staff said they expect a 7–10 year useful life for cameras and plan to cycle back through earlier phases after phase 5 to maintain and upgrade systems going forward. No vote occurred on procurement at this meeting; staff will return with bid results and a recommendation in December.