The FCPS Department of Facilities and Transportation Services lately approved the new surveillance addition to the AHS security policy. This approval will lead to the installation of interior security cameras in the AHS hallways.
The proposal of the surveillance cameras was brought up when students decided to have a major county-wide food fight. The proposal of the cameras was looked into deeply after this incident. The installation of these cameras will be a positive step in security enhancement.
“I see the use and installation of interior cameras as a preventative measure in helping to minimize, even eliminate negative/destructive behavior. They are not meant to create a “gotcha” type of environment,” Principal Tim Thomas said.
Some people may be against the idea of interior cameras because it’s considered an invasion of privacy, but the cameras will not be used to that extent. “[The cameras are]Used to the measure to protect the safety of students and identify the report of allegedly inappropriate behavior. It does allow us in those cases the opportunity to identify individuals in a more exact way,” Thomas said.
The highly populated places in the school will be monitored by these cameras due to recent problems with students in the main hallway and jock lobby. This will keep the students and teachers under supervision at all times during the school day. It will be  a good source of safety and security for the school’s learning environment.
“Preventative measure, another part of our toolkit in work used to maintain a positive and safe and secure environment in Annandale High School,” Thomas said.
The idea of interior cameras has been created five to six years ago and has just been approved by the school board. This addition to the schools will help security staff in the schools, giving them a better understanding of what goes on in the school hallways.  Many teachers and PTSA members are in favor of this school decision while the students are somewhat against the situation. “The students I have spoken with so far, in smaller group settings, some have been opposed and some have been in favor,” Thomas said.
Students should not be worried about the installation, they should feel much safer in school. These cameras are meant to keep a barrier between the students and danger.  Almost every student has some type of camera on them at all times, which means the newly installed cameras should have the same effect on the students. “Not made to create a climate of paranoia, insecurity or distrust. Just about everyone has a camera and students often take it upon themselves to videotape something on their cellphones,” Thomas said.
The school’s community and learning can be highly affected by disruption of some students and teachers which means the enhancement of technology in the schools will have a positive effect on the school members. Although some student may think of this as a trust issue, this is more of a safety issue, to prevent something wrong from happening before it actually happen. “Of course I trust the students, but the problem is we never really have enough of adult eyes in the building kind of monitoring the behavior of the students because students make mistakes and adults make mistakes,” Thomas said.
Since the approval of the interior cameras took almost six years, the installation process will take a good amount of time. Besides the installation of the cameras, the cameras will not be funded by the county rather it will be funded by the school. The school will be in charge of coming up with the money on their own.

“”You cannot use constructional money or allocated funds to acquire the interior cameras so it could be from money generated through building use, vending machine profits, student parking permits, those different types of programs could be monopoly money,”” Thomas said.
The issuance of these cameras would help better the learning environment for the students and the teachers.
Parents will then be able to send their students to school without worrying whether or not they will be safe.  School is a place of education and learning, therefore students should be able to feel safe when attending class and transitioning from classes.