Safety at three Williamsburg-James City County schools will be enhanced this academic year with new surveillance cameras, thanks to a school security equipment grant from the state.
Brian Weaver, the school division’s energy, environmental and security specialist, said James River Elementary, Norge Elementary and Toano Middle schools, which have previously dealt with vandalism and littering, will receive the new cameras.
“We want to do it in all of our schools,” Weaver said. “We have had some incidents in the past that necessitated us having those cameras there.”
Weaver said those schools currently have analog cameras, but the new cameras will be digital. The school division needs to contribute at least 25 percent of the cost of the project to receive the grant, which is valued at $67,200.
The Williamsburg-James City County Schools division has received the grant three times, previously using the award for access control systems at two schools and security camera upgrades at Berkeley Middle School.
Weaver said the school division would identify areas where the cameras are needed to improve the range of surveillance. The equipment will be purchased in the next six months, Weaver said.
