DeKalb County Schools in metropolitan Atlanta have installed 3,500 GE cameras and 220 GE digital video multiplexer recorders with Ethernet connection capabilities at 140 schools and centers districtwide in an upgrade of its video surveillance systems. About 98,000 students attend the district's 83 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, 20 high schools and 18 specialized centers. The security system has helped resolve incidents more quickly and accurately, and resulted in a reduced need for guard service at district schools.

The overall $8.9 million security upgrade was funded by a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST).

“The school district wanted to do away with video tapes and have a way to view camera feeds over their LAN," said Dr. Herb Dixon, CPP, president of Southern A.T./Open Options Security, Inc. of Norcross, Georgia, the dealership which installed the GE video systems. "Now, each school has its own control room and the school detective can quickly review video and burn evidence CDs if necessary."

Each control room has two monitors a 21-inch monitor for cameras 1-16, and a 17.4-inch plasma screen for cameras 17-32. A plasma screen doubles as a CPU monitor for review and access control.

Every school in the district is outfitted with 32 to 48 cameras, with most placed in public areas such as hallways, parking lots, cafeterias and school entrances. The cameras are integrated with the school's access control system.

Ralph Dodson, the district's security administrator, said the district set up a central control room that monitors all district facilities. The master control room is in a renovated section of the DeKalb County Schools Police Department. Some police officers responding to alarms or incidents at the campus can view recorded images from laptop computers in their patrol cars.

"Everyone is being taught how to use the camera system, including the principal and assistant principals," Dodson said.