Garvey School Board approves $1.9 million contract for districtwide security cameras

The Garvey School District Board of Education voted 5-0 on Oct. 27, 2025, to authorize the use of Los Angeles Community College District Contract #40684 (a piggyback bid) with NIC Partners Inc. to purchase and install a districtwide security camera system. The contract covers 325 cameras and related infrastructure at the District Office and all elementary and intermediate school sites at a total cost of $1,912,924.81 to be paid from Bond Funds.

Superintendent Anita Chu described the system as proprietary and said it must be installed, configured and certified by qualified technicians to ensure full functionality and to maintain the manufacturer's warranty. Chu told the board that contract terms and implementation details had been discussed with union representatives and other stakeholders in prior meetings.

Board members pressed for formal policies before the cameras become operational. John Nunez asked the board to distinguish between broad policy and specific implementation protocols; Chu explained that policies provide general guidance while protocols spell out operational details such as access permissions and alert notifications. Andrew Yam requested that the board adopt implementation policies — including provisions on data protection and any use of artificial intelligence — as formal board policy requiring a vote rather than leaving those matters solely to administrative procedure.

Ricky Hernandez, director of education technology and innovations, said installations are expected to begin Nov. 17, 2025, with completion projected to take between three months and one year. Chu said the district negotiated a significant discount on the purchase, citing a comparison to a prior Head Start deployment of 123 devices that cost over $1 million; she said final negotiations lowered the district's price by about $14,000.

Yam expressed concern that using a special meeting to approve a single contract could create a perception of preferential treatment due to compressed notice, but he also noted a time-sensitive pricing window and said delays could cost the district an estimated $400,000–$500,000 after Nov. 1, 2025. Board President Paul Duran responded that special meetings are standard practice for time-sensitive matters.

On the motion of Andrew Yam, seconded by John Nunez, the board approved the authorization to use LACCD Contract #40684 piggyback bid with NIC Partners Inc. for purchase and installation of security cameras and related infrastructure; the motion passed by a 5-0 vote. The board recorded votes by Paul Duran (Yes), Andrew Yam (Yes), Ronald Trabanino (Yes), Maureen Chin (Yes) and John Nunez (Yes).

The board briefly reviewed upcoming meeting dates (Nov. 6 and Dec. 11, 2025) and adjourned at 7:20 p.m.