A new security system, including digital surveillance cameras and electronic door locks was installed at Crestwood High School the week of Jan. 12. The high school’s former camera system was moved into the elementary school.
    The high school now has 14 digital cameras inside the school, two more than its previous total of 12. Several high-definition cameras were purchased and installed for the south parking lot.
    The elementary school’s previous camera system, which had been in place for many years, was a videotape system that did not work well, according to Howard-Winneshiek Superintendent Brian Ney. The system that was transported from the high school to the elementary school and the new high school system are both digital video recorders, which have several benefits over the videotape recorder system, Ney said.     
    “If we see something on the recording, we can burn the segment to a DVD for law enforcement to review if needed,” said Howard-Winneshiek Community School District Superintendent Brian Ney.
    The systems also date-stamp the recording. The high school’s new system can be monitored over the internet by anyone that is given access to the password. If police need to be called, they can send an officer and also login to the camera system from the police station and immediately observe what is happening.   
    The new security system will help school officials catch vandalism as its happening.
    “It was reasonable to improve the K-8 system by using the current high school system and replace the high school system with modern technology to improve our capabilities to see when vandalism and other unacceptable activities occur in the parking lot,” Ney said.
    The high school camera system, purchased from New Millennium Technologies of Indianola, cost $17,543, plus shipping of about $100. An outdoor camera focusing on the playground cost $3,436 plus about $75 in shipping fees. This company also installed the electronic locking system.
    The School Board decided to install a locking system at the high school primarily because the previous locks were outdated and because the new system offers better school security.
    “Our current doors and locks at the high school are old and we have had problems keeping them functioning properly,” Ney said. “Just like a car with 200,000 miles on it, repairs can be made, but it is more cost-efficient and time-efficient to replace.”
    The electronic locks eliminate keys for the building. If a key card is lost, it can be disabled so it will not function.  If someone needs a key card for a couple of weeks, school officials can activate it just for the time it is needed. If the school needs to have a building lock down of all doors, administrators can lock all doors at once from the main station. The system can be expanded to control the elementary school building if the School Board decides to install it there in the future.