Alamance commissioners vote to release school bond funds for cameras and weapons-detection systems
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Summary
The board voted 4-0 to reallocate existing Burlington Schools bond funds to complete roofing projects and to fund school safety upgrades including cameras, keycard access and weapons-detection systems at multiple sites.
The Alamance County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to release available bond funds to the Burlington Area School System to complete roof repairs and to fund school-security upgrades.
A school-system representative asked the board to reallocate bond dollars so the system can complete the Southern Middle roof budget and install weapons-detection systems, cameras and keycard access at elementary, middle and high schools that lack effective coverage. The presenter said 11 sites need cameras or upgraded keycard access and that some existing cameras are outdated or were removed during canopy work.
A commissioner moved to release the funds to ABSS; the motion was seconded and approved on a 4-0 voice vote. The board’s action used bond money already on hand; presenters and commissioners stressed the request aligns with the original intent of the 2018 bond referendum and pointed to under-budget savings at some sites that make the reallocations feasible.
Commissioners said the decision was driven by safety concerns following recent incidents on school campuses. One commissioner cited recent in-school firearm finds and said, “we can't ever be careful enough when it comes to that,” urging quick action to improve cameras and access controls.
The board did not authorize new borrowing or an increase in the bond total; commissioners described the vote as a reallocation of existing funds to prioritized safety and security projects. Officials said project specifics and budgets are detailed in the board packet and will be coordinated with the school system’s finance staff.
Next steps: staff will work with ABSS to finalize budgets and implement the camera and access-control projects under the approved reallocation. The board will record expenditures in upcoming budget documentation.
