New Cameras Increase Commack School Security

Commack School District is taking steps to increase its security after the tragedy in Newtown Conn., shook the nation.

One of the changes includes having security guards at every entrance, Superintendent Donald James said at a Board of Education meeting Thursday. The board has made final safety recommendations, which will be brought before Suffolk County Police and the Commack Fire Department before they are made formal procedures next month.

“This way, we can make sure what we did, with as much experience as we have in-house, aligns with what those divisions are recommending at this time,” he said.

The police and fire departments will both have the school emergency plans. “This way, they know what our expectations are and we know they have those plans in place in case anything does occur,” James said.

The superintendent added that some of the changes might not be immediately apparent.

“Some of the changes that we’ve made are invisible, meaning that we have new security cameras and we have some personnel in places,” he said.

The security cameras are hooked up to a central system, so that anyone with the proper user name and password can view their feeds from any computer. Suffolk County Police Department also has the log on information, so that its officers can see what is happening in each of the schools if a threat were present.

Additional cameras, that would help identify individuals before they enter the building are also being discussed, James said.