The James Logan Courier

By Veronica Brown, Courier Staff Writer

Tuesday night, New Haven Unified School District Community Forum attacked the issue of the safety of it’s schools. The meeting was hosted by Superintendent Dr. Pat Jaurequi. Two major topics that were being discussed were installing video surveillance cameras in the district schools and whether or not random searches should be conducted for students who have been previously punished for weapon possession or selling controlled substances.
After a brief presentation of the goals and concerns that the district has, the room broke up into two groups to discuss each topic. Each group was asked to make a list of pros and cons for each potential policy.

A common concern regarding the surveillance cameras was that it would not be monitored and there for only being of use to punish someone rather than prevent.

“I’ve been here for ten years, I’ve been thrown through the air in a particular fight, but I have some concerns about the video surveillance because I don’t want to work in a prison environment, said Linda Rodrigues, a Logan math teacher.

“A camera does not yell ‘stop, stop, what are you thinking?’ A camera gives us someone to punish after the fact” said a concerned teacher of 21 years.

“I do think [surveillance cameras] act as a deterrent, but I do not feel cameras will be a perfect solution” says Don Montoya, principal of James Logan.

The idea of random searches surprised most, and many saw it as an extreme precaution and, in some cases, unnecessary. Some parents expressed concerns on the legality of the random searches.

“There should be no searches without probable cause. Otherwise it is harassment and goes against a student's civil rights” says Rodrigues on the topic of a random search for weapons policy.

Jaurequi said the school district's primary concern for the staff and students is safety, adding that it is crucial for parents and teachers to get involved and express their concerns.