BROOKSVILLE — Bracken County emergency dispatch will soon be able to monitor security cameras at the Bracken County School District.
On Wednesday, Bracken County magistrates approved a measure that would allow the dispatch center to update video equipment.
According to Bracken County Judge-Executive Tina Teegarden, the video equipment has needed an upgrade for awhile, but doing so will also come with an added benefit for school safety.
“Upgrading this equipment will allow the dispatch center to monitor the security cameras in the local school district,” she said. “They would see everything available on the security cameras through the buildings.”
Teegarden said she and the former judge-executive, Earl Bush, were approached by Bracken County Superintendent Jeff Aulick about two years ago to request to have the security cameras monitored.
“He was fully in support of this,” she said. “He actually suggested it. It’s a good thing to do.”
Aulick said he was in favor of the additional security measure being added to the school district.
“I’m very appreciative that the dispatchers will be monitoring our facilities,” he said. “Dispatchers will be able to guide the different first responders to where they need to be in real time. This is just another resource we can use to keep our students and staff safe.”
One of the magistrates asked if Augusta Independent School will be included in the monitoring.
Teegarden said the school district is interested, but does not have the equipment needed to do so.
“Augusta will be included as soon as they can be included,” she said.
AIS Superintendent Lisa McCane said the district is interested in having the security cameras monitored.
“We absolutely would be interested in having this happen, if we can get the needed upgrade to our infrastructure,” she said. “It’s a need we have for all of our security at the district.”
According to McCane, having the extra monitoring would be an additional safety measure for the school.
“It would increase safety overall,” she said. “Having that extra layer would be a great thing. They would be able to see what is going on all the time in our school. It would also be a deterrent for potential problems whether it be in school or after hours.”
Teegarden said she was happy the county could do something so important for the school districts.
“Dispatch will play a vital role if there are any incidents in the schools,” she said. “If, God forbid, something were to happen, our dispatch would be able to pinpoint the location within the buildings. I’m a big supporter of getting dispatch involved with the schools. Keeping our children, teachers and officers safe is one of my top priorities.”
In addition to the safety measures being take for the school districts, the upgraded equipment will help the dispatch office as well, according to Teegarden.
“We’ll have better surveillance around the dispatch building and office,” she said. “Our equipment is outdated and this will just help us to keep the area safer.”
The magistrates approved the purchase of upgraded dispatch video surveillance. The cost will be $1,795.
