The South Portland Board of Education recognizes the district’s responsibility to maintain order on school transportation vehicles to ensure the safety of staff and students. After carefully balancing the need for discipline and safety with students’ interests in privacy, the Board supports the use of video cameras on school transportation vehicles. In an effort to reduce student behavior violations, the cameras may be used to monitor student behavior during transport to and from school and extracurricular activities.
When the resulting video tapes are used as a basis for discipline, parent or guardians will be notified and given the opportunity to view the tape of their child. Students in violation of school discipline and conduct codes shall be dealt with in accordance with established Board policy, administrative regulations, and established school practices.
Notice of use of video cameras for disciplinary purposes in school transportation vehicles will be provided to all students, parents, and staff on an annual basis. Moreover, notice that video observation may take place will be posted in each transportation vehicle.
All tapes will be maintained by the Director of Transportation. The Director may provide access to tapes only upon request by a South Portland administrator.
Tapes may be viewed by students and or parents under the direct supervision of a district administrator. Only those segments of the relevant portion of the tape appropriate to the discussion will be viewed.
Tapes will be erased at the end of a school year. However, the Superintendent of Schools may retain an individual tape beyond the end of a school year should there be outstanding issues concerning discipline on a bus.
Adopted: June 14, 1995
Revised: 2001
Revised: June 11, 2001
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