Policy on Use of Security Cameras

The School is committed to the security of its faculty, staff, students, families, and guests while on campus.  As such, the School uses video monitoring to help keep its facilities operating in a safe and secure manner.  This policy applies to all security cameras installed on the campus, including but not limited to indoor and outdoor areas, hallways, entrances, key campus crossroads, and other public spaces.

The purpose of this policy is to ensure the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors on the Friends Community School campus through the use of security cameras.  This policy outlines the procedures and guidelines for the installation, use, management and privacy considerations related to the security camera system.  The School seeks to balance the security, safety, and other benefits derived from the use of video surveillance with any privacy concerns of the School’s employees, students, families, and guests.

Oversight of installation, placement, maintenance, and utilization of security cameras and associated policies, standards, and procedures is the joint responsibility of the Operations and Instructional and Information Technology departments, in consultation with and approval by the Head of School.  

Security cameras will be placed in public areas where there is a need to enhance security and safety, including, but not limited to, indoor and outdoor areas, hallways, entrances, key campus crossroads and other public spaces.  Cameras will not be installed and video surveillance will not be used in locations where there exists a reasonable expectation of privacy, such as changing rooms, locker rooms, restrooms, or private offices.  These cameras record visual footage in each location, but do not record any sound or other audio.

In all cases, security equipment will be used in a manner that adheres to legal requirements and ethical standards where the right of privacy is concerned.

School grounds, buildings, hallways, parking lots, and property, including buses used for School purposes, may be equipped with security cameras.  The areas under video surveillance are subject to change, and the School may add further locations or remove locations and/or conduct video surveillance on a temporary basis in other locations as the School feels is necessary in its discretion and pursuant to applicable law.

The School will display a sign or signs that provide notification to the School community members and other visitors of the presence of security cameras and active video surveillance. The signs may be placed near the primary building entrance or in other prominent locations.

The Operations and Instructional and Information Technology departments may monitor and review security camera feeds and recordings as needed to enhance public safety.  It is neither intended nor expected that security cameras will be routinely or continuously monitored in real time.

With the prior approval of the Head of School, other School personnel may monitor and review the School’s security camera live feeds and recordings for purposes of public safety, including related School operations, including, but not limited to verifying individuals at the main building entrance.  Only authorized personnel, as determined by the Head of School, will be involved in, or have access to, security camera data.

Except in areas where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy (including locker rooms, changing rooms, and restrooms), all conduct on School property is subject to being recorded, preserved, and examined by means of security cameras.

All requests for release of recorded material should be submitted to the Head of School.  The School may release recordings where legally required, pursuant to applicable laws, including to law enforcement agencies.

Video footage will be retained in accordance with the records retention policies of the School and State of Maryland.