Date: Fri 22-May-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: MICHEL

Quick Words:

NHS-surveillance-camera

Full Text:

School Officials Deny Report Of Surveillance Cameras At NHS

The Newtown High School student newspaper recently quoted a suspected high

school vandal as saying that security personnel had said that there were

surveillance cameras in the school.

The student was suspected of vandalizing a cafeteria table.

The Hawkeye (April 1998) quotes suspect Jason LaPierre, NHS senior, as saying

"after searching my bag, which he [Rich Novia, head of security for Newtown

School District] had no right doing, he made the outlandish claim that there

were 18 surveillance cameras around the school, one of which recorded me

slicing up a desk."

Mr Novia told both The Hawkeye and The Newtown Bee that he never said there

were surveillance cameras at the high school. He also made it clear that there

are no surveillance cameras at the high school at this time.

Mr Novia did say that there are times when surveillance cameras are used. One

was installed at the Newtown Middle School, near the A-wing locker area where

there had been reports of a suspicious person last fall.

Mr Novia said, "We follow the legal standards and procedures, and work in

conjunction with police and district administrators."

He said that for "hot spots" a security camera is a good measure. "It doesn't

miss anything, no blinking, no moving, and it is more accurate [than a human

observer]," he said.

Bill Manfredonia, principal of Newtown High School, confirmed that there are

no security cameras in the high school building.

He said "A small group of teenagers might be finding fun in passing this story

on. To me, it is a waste of everybody's time."