Read this article now - Try Goliath Business News - FREE!   
You can view this article PLUS...

• Over 5 million business articles
• Hundreds of the most trusted magazines, newswires, and journals (see list)
• Premium business information that is timely and relevant
• Unlimited Access

Tell Me More   Terms and Conditions

Purchase this article for $4.95

...protracted war. Kent State is likewise laden with meaning. And now, Columbine and Virginia Tech have become ingrained as shorthand for campus killing sprees. Both events pointed up in the starkest way the fragility of school security and ratcheted up safety efforts at educational institutions across the country.

At the head of every school's security wish list is video surveillance, which districts are embracing at breakneck speed. In the "School Safety Index," a report released this past summer by technology reseller CDW-G, 63 percent of the 381 responding districts said they have installed security cameras, with many more considering their use over the next two years.

Still, finding those solutions is a process rife with obstacles. "In terms of technology, video surveillance is one of the most challenging decisions a school district can make," says John Navarro, senior systems integrator for Phoenix-based Stanley Security Solutions. "It's one thing to have cameras; it's another to be strategic about them."

How, then, can a district be strategic? Naturally, by doing its homework.

Choosing Wisely

Once you've decided you want video surveillance, the first big issue is picking cameras. This can be a tricky proposition--so many bells and whistles, such a limited budget. Granted, district officials don't have as many options with video surveillance as they do with, say, laptops, but a sizable camera purchase requires some key decisions before an investment can be made.

There are two basic camera systems: closed-circuit television and internet protocol (IP). Historically, the natural progression has been for schools to start with a CCTV system and build out from there. This approach connects a network of off-line analog cameras to a recording unit tucked away in a closet in the principal's office. The upside is affordability (the cost is usually less than $25,000) and ease of installation. The downside: Most basic...

NOTE: All illustrations and photos have been removed from this article.



More articles from T H E Journal (Technological Horizons In Education)
Tag! You're it: requiring students to wear RFID-enabled badges can eas..., November 01, 2007
Special consideration: year-end testing can produce a false picture of..., November 01, 2007
MFPS: a bundle of possibilities: packaging diverse software with power..., November 01, 2007
The Lego Group.(product FOCUS: The latest releases, services, and new ..., November 01, 2007
Hamilton Electronics.(product FOCUS: The latest releases, services, an..., November 01, 2007

Looking for additional articles?
Search our database of over 3 million articles.

Looking for more in-depth information on this industry?
Search our complete database of Industry & Market reports by text, subject, publication name or publication date.

About Goliath
Whether you're looking for sales prospects, competitive information, company analysis or best practices in managing your organization, Goliath can help you meet your business needs.

Our extensive business information databases empower business professionals with both the breadth and depth of credible, authoritative information they need to support their business goals. Whether it be strategic planning, sales prospecting, company research or defining management best practices - Goliath is your leading source for accurate information.