Marblehead School Committee uses comparisons in security cameras debate

MARBLEHEAD – Maintaining their belief that vandalism at Marblehead High costs the town $30,000 a year, the School Committee has reaffirmed its current policy on security devices in the schools.In a monthly work session Thursday evening, committee members discussed their present policy, comparing it to policies in Lexington and Cambridge. Lexington specifically discusses security cameras, Cambridge refers to “electronic security devices” and Marblehead?s present policy authorizes the superintendent to make sure that each school is “well equipped” for school security. Committee Chairman EuRim Chun said after the meeting that the wording of the policy allows for “protective devices.”The discussion was generated by a $44,000 Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant, which will mostly be used to buy security cameras for Marblehead High. The full cost is $88,000 and the town will supply $44,000 from the school budget. The town already uses security cameras at the high school and elsewhere, but news of the grant spurred local controversy.Committee member Kathy Leonardson, who found the two comparable policies, said she preferred Lexington because “It answers a lot of questions that have come up.”Jonathan Lederman, who serves on the School Security Committee, told his colleagues, “I?m okay with our present policy.”Committee member Thomas Connolly was critical of the proposal, pointing out that vandalism has cost the high school $16,261, according to a report by School Facilities Director Richard Matthews.?We?ve been told the cost is $30,000,” Connolly said, asking if the camera installation would reduce vandalism.Marblehead High Principal Kenneth Weinstein told the committee that a security camera outside the school locker room caught a thief in the act Thursday and enabled the school and police to resolve the matter.?We dealt with it quickly because we had the camera there,” Weinstein said.Superintendent of Schools Greg Maass said the $16,000 in vandalism costs that Matthews reported took place inside the field house and Matthews is compiling a report on costs for the rest of the school. “I?m pretty sure it will be easy for us to find another $14,000,” Maass said.Leonardson asked for a one-year report to show the effect of the town?s investment.