Video Cameras on Transportation Vehicles

North Clackamas School Board Policy

Code: ECAC-AR Revised/Reviewed: 2/21/13; 6/06/13; 8/14/14

Video Cameras for District Property and Vehicles

Education Records

The district will comply with provisions of state and federal law regarding education records requirements including the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as applicable to the district’s use of video recordings. Video recordings, which become a part of a student’s education record, will be maintained in accordance with established education record procedures governing access, review and release of education records.

Staff Records

Video recordings considered for retention will be maintained in accordance with established Board personnel policies, administrative regulations and collective bargaining agreements.

Storage/Security

1. All video recordings will be stored and secured to ensure confidentiality. 
2. Video recordings for district property will be stored for at least 10 calendar days, and not more than 90 days, after initial recording. These recordings will then be erased unless they become part of a student’s education record, a district investigation, criminal investigation or legal/liability issue.
3. Video recordings in buses will be stored as long as the device’s capacity will allow.
4. Video recordings held for review of a student or staff incident will be maintained in their original form pending resolution. The recording will then be either erased or retained as necessary, as a part of the student’s education record and/or district investigation file, in accordance with the established district procedures.

Use

1. Staff and students are prohibited from tampering with or otherwise interfering with video camera equipment. This policy and administrative regulation do not refer to appropriate use of other video camera equipment not used as security cameras (e.g. cameras used in the district’s educational or athletic programs).
2. Security cameras in facilities and vehicles are to be used in response to an observed or reported issue, specific concern or formal complaint. These may be related to the safety, health or welfare of students, staff, community and/or visitors, or to safeguard district facilities, equipment and vehicles. Security camera recordings may also be used if an issue or concern is identified with an employee while viewing a recording of an incident not directly related to the employee (e.g. while viewing an incident with a student, it is observed that there was an issue with an employee related to safety, health, welfare or safeguard of district facilities, equipment or vehicles).
3. Security cameras in facilities and vehicles shall not be used for surveillance or monitoring employee behavior or performance (except as described in #2 above or with the employee’s written request).
4. Security camera monitors may display the security camera views as a deterrent, but they shall not be used as a proactive tool for monitoring employee behavior or performance (except as described in #2 above or with the employee’s written request).
5. Security camera recordings shall not be used as a supervisory tool, used in employee evaluations or disciplinary proceedings (except as described in #2 above or with the employee’s written request).
6. Employees shall be provided the opportunity to take breaks (as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement) in an area that is not being monitored by security cameras. This may require the employee to leave an area that has a security camera to take a break.
7. Upon request by an employee to the unit manager, the employees will be given the location of all cameras in use (with possible exception of specific cameras being used as part of a confidential investigation, e.g. criminal investigation).
8. Upon request by an employee to the unit manager, the employees will be given the names of anyone who has access to view the security camera recordings.
9. Administrators and designees responsible for viewing security camera recordings shall be trained on the policies and guiding principles governing their use. The superintendent or designee will be responsible to ensure training is provided.

Viewing Requests

1. Requests for viewing may be made to the appropriate building or district-level administrator within five school days of the date of recording.
2. Procedures for managing any viewing request will follow all appropriate laws, policies and collective bargaining agreements. If the recording is determined to be a legally protected educational record, viewing requests will be considered following the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). The administrator will determine if a legitimate educational interest exists to warrant viewing. In addition, a parent/guardian may not view a recording of another child if it is determined the recording is a protected educational record.
3. At the time of a request for viewing is made, the building or district-level administrator will secure the appropriate segment of the recording. Only the portion of the video recording concerning a specific incident(s) will be made available for viewing.
4. Video recordings will be made available for viewing within three school days of the request approval.