Education

Mattituck looking to boost security at high school

JENNIFER GUSTAVSON PHOTO | District business administrator Michael Engelhardt
JENNIFER GUSTAVSON PHOTO | District business administrator Michael Engelhardt

The Mattituck-Cutchogue School District is looking to increase security at the high school, with representatives from Panasonic planned to visit the school next week to discuss the feasibility of installing cameras on campus.

District business administrator Michael Engelhardt gave a financial presentation about both investments during the school board’s regular meeting Thursday night.

Mr. Engelhardt said the technology company offers software that can handle seven days’ worth of non-stop video recording with high-definition cameras that can also turn on through a motion censor, he said.

He added that the district is looking to purchase a four-camera system, which costs between $4,000 to $5,000, and may later install cameras at Cutchogue East Elementary School.

“We will start small and see how it works,” he said about the security camera project.

Schools across the country have enhanced their security systems and emergency plans following the Dec. 14, 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., where 27 people — including 20 children and the gunman — were killed. On the North Fork, both Southold and Greenport boosted security on school properties earlier this year, while New Suffolk is in the process of considering adding another camera on the school property.

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