Chicago Public Schools spending over $76M to expand security cameras throughout district
Pedro Martinez, CPS CEO, to speak at news conference Wednesday morning
CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago Public Schools made an announcement involving security at hundreds of its schools Wednesday morning.
CPS held a news conference to announce a new investment.
It's planning to expand security cameras at district schools.
CPS said it will add and upgrade security cameras at 331 elementary and high schools throughout the city.
"I know that our children cannot be successful learning in their classrooms unless they feel safe," CPS CEO Pedro Martinez said.
The price tag, which comes in at just over $76 million, is part of CPS' comprehensive safety initiative.
The spending marks a huge leap from the $8 million earmarked each year. CPS said the money is coming from a combination of capital and federal funds.
Eli Whitney School on the West Side got new security cameras last year under the three-year installation plan.
That's where the news conference was held Wednesday morning.
The cameras provide clear and real-time video to security members on-campus, but also to Chicago's Office of Emergency Management and Communications and CPD.
"Having a wide range of safety resources such as state of the art security cameras here at our school gives me confidence that we will be able to provide all students with a safe, supportive learning environment," Eli Whitney Elementary School Principal Evelia Diaz said.
The district is prioritizing the cameras for schools based on a scoring model that considers current enrollment, camera condition, the number of safety incidents taking place at the school and the number of criminal incidents around the school.
District officials hope it will help prevent violence.
"So we do see it as a preventative, and we see it as a better way to optimize our staff. The other thing we see, though, is direct relationships and connection that we're forming with our partners at the emergency center and at CPD," one official said.
The announcement came just months after a high-profile deadly shooting outside Benito Juarez high school.
Back in December, two teenagers were killed outside the school.
At the time, police released surveillance photos to help them solve the case.
"The quality of the cameras is going to be really helpful in terms of providing information, if we are looking for a particular individual," said Jadine Chou, CPS chief of safety and security.
The Chicago Teachers Union said Wednesday it's looking for more information on how the cameras will be utilized.
Members want to make sure it's done equitably to keep all students safe.
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