Archived Policy Handbook 2017-18 | Page 59

Video Surveillance on School Grounds and in School Buildings, No. 712.0 Policy on Visitors to Anoka-Hennepin School District Buildings and Sites, No. 903.1 I. PURPOSE Maintaining the health, welfare, and safety of students, staff and visitors while on school district property as well as the protection of school district property are important functions of the school district. The School Board recognizes that video/electronic sur- veillance systems may serve as a deterrent of prohibited activity and assist with monitoring and investigating activity on school property. II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY A. Placement 1. School district building and grounds may be equipped with video cameras. 2. If school district buildings and grounds are equipped with video cameras, a conspicuous notice will be posted to notify students, staff and the public that they may be recorded. 3. Video surveillance may occur in any school district building or on any school district property. 4. Video surveillance will not be used in bathrooms or locker rooms, although surveillance may occur in hallways in the vicinity of bathrooms or locker rooms. B. Use of Videotape. 1. Videotapes will be viewed only by the appropriate school building administrator (and/or designee). The videotape will be used by the building principal to assist in deter- mining whether or not an incident actually occurred, and if so, the severity of the incident. Information obtained from the tapes that reveal unlawful actions may be brought to the attention of the school police liaison officer and/or law enforcement agencies. Neither the parent/guardian of the student that has been video- taped nor the student will be allowed to view the tape, in accordance with data privacy laws, unless the student is the only subject on the video tape or the building principal has received written permission from the parent/guardians of all other students on the video tape in question. Upon written request, the school district will provide a written summary of the taped incident(s) to a student pictured on the tape or the student's parent/guardians. 2. Each building principal (and/or designee) will be respon- sible for the security of the video equipment and for the handling of the videotapes. A log will be kept at each school using video surveillance equipment that will record the use and rotation of the videotapes. Video- tapes will be reviewed by the building principal (and/or designee) and stored for a period of at least five school days before they are reused. 3. A videotape will be released only in conformance with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, Minn. Stat. Ch. 13 and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. ยง1232g and the rules and/or regulations. I. PURPOSE 58 The purpose of this policy is to inform the school community and the general public of the position of the School Board on visitors to school buildings and other school property and leased sites. Parents and others are welcome to visit schools. However, for safety reasons, all visitors must report to the school office. This policy outlines procedures for visitors during the school day. II. GENERAL STATEMENT OF POLICY A. The School Board encourages interest on the part of parents and community members in school programs and student activities. The School Board welcomes visits to school buildings and school property by parents and community members, provided the visits are consistent with the health, education, and safety of students and employees and are conducted within the procedures and requirements established by the Anoka-Hennepin School District. B. The School Board reaffirms its position on the importance of maintaining a school environment that is safe for students and employees and free of activity that may be disruptive to the student learning process or employee working environment. III. VISITOR LIMITATIONS A. All visitors to Anoka-Hennepin buildings and sites must register with the administrative office upon arrival and departure. B. Visitors to Anoka-Hennepin buildings and sites will receive and must wear a highly visible visitor badge to signify their status and the fact that school administration has author- ized their presence in the building. C. Visitors who wish to meet with or observe teachers should schedule appointments in advance and register with the administrative office upon arrival. D. If school district personnel or volunteers see a visitor in the building without a visitor badge, they will courteously escort the visitor to the administrative office or immediately notify the administrative office of the presence of the visitor. E. Pursuant to this policy, an individual or group may be denied permission to visit a school or school site; or such permission may be revoked if the visitor does not comply with the school district procedures and regulations, or if the presence of the individual or group is not in the best interest of students, employees, or the school district. F. Pursuant to state statute, an individual who enters school property and does not comply with the policy and its require- ments may be charged with criminal trespass and thus may be subject to criminal penalty. 2017-18 School Handbook