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Snake River School Board approves $118,000 surveillance camera upgrade after missed junior-high footage
Summary
Trustees approved a phased $118,000 surveillance-camera purchase from Bluum USA after being advised to remove outdated cameras and noting a recent junior-high assault that was not captured on existing equipment. The board authorized an immediate ~$32,700 payment for urgent junior-high upgrades and deferred the remainder until after July 1.
The Snake River School Board of Trustees on Feb. 18 voted unanimously to buy a district-wide surveillance camera system from Bluum USA, Inc., approving a $118,000 purchase split into two payments so the district can replace outdated and nonfunctional cameras.
Superintendent Mark Kress told the board federal and state officials had previously advised removing some older cameras because of security concerns. Board members and administrators said many existing cameras — particularly at the junior high — were not functioning or produced unusable footage. Principal Sydnee Hale said a recent student assault near the junior high was not captured on the district’s cameras, underscoring the need for upgrades.
The approved plan covers 176 cameras and multiple video-channel systems across several buildings. The district will make an initial payment of $32,735.56 for the junior-high equipment due 30 days from delivery; the remaining $86,052.24 will be due July 30, 2026. Superintendent Kress asked for immediate approval of the initial payment to address the most urgent needs.
Trustee Toni Ibarra moved to approve the purchase and Trustee Carol Hepworth seconded. The motion passed on a 5-0 vote.
Board members did not specify which budget line will fund the purchase during the meeting. The board’s approval authorizes procurement from the vendor used previously for district audiovisual equipment, a factor administrators said influenced their vendor selection.
The board did not adopt additional policy changes about camera use or retention at this meeting; staff may return with details on funding sources and deployment timelines at a future meeting.
