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Eden Prairie High School
Eden Prairie, MN
Alpha Video Secures Eden Prairie High School
Increased security, less vandalism, and sorting out conflicting stories are three reasons why principal Bill Sommers wanted more security cameras in place at Eden Prairie High School. "The cameras we do have showed us we didn't have enough cameras," he said. “We wanted to add another 35 cameras inside and outside the building this school year.”
After a recommendation from another metro school district, Maintenance and Operations Coordinator Jim Dellwo contacted Alpha Video’s chief security consultant Steve Dunker. Dunker assessed the situation and recommended a total of 35 additional cameras in order to help EPHS meet their security goals. Eden Prairie now boasts a total of 35 new Intellex security cameras. “So far, we've found they save us a lot of energy,” said Sommers.
And, if something does go wrong in terms of student fights or thefts, there is a record of what happened. Rather than guess which students are telling the truth about what happened, sorting out the facts becomes a matter of popping a tape in a VCR. “We want to hold the right people accountable," Sommers said. “In some of the hallways, the cameras have helped us solve some of the thefts we've had."
Less Vandalism
Keeping a 670,000-square-foot building clean and vandalism-free is not an easy task. Jim Dellwo, Eden Prairie High School’s Maintenance and Operations Coordinator said the school is trying to be proactive with security concerns. “There haven’t been any real significant incidents to date,” he said. “But we do know that because the students are aware of the new system, vandalism has definitely decreased.”
Broken windows, eggs, and graffiti that used to be regular messes for janitors to clean up have been reduced significantly since installation of the cameras, not to mention the thousands of dollars saved by not having to clean or replace what the
vandals damaged.
Sommers added that nearly every public spot, from businesses to shopping malls, has some kind of surveillance equipment. Adding them to the high school landscape is more about managing the size of the building and the people inside than the quality of students at EPHS. After all, the building is open seven days a week, 18 hours a day. Community members as well as EPHS
students and staff roam the hallways at odd times. “We told everyone involved – staff, students and parents – about the new system so there would be no perception of ‘Big Brother’ watching,” said Dellwo. “For the most part, everyone has been very positive about the changes. There may have been some grumbling from the students at first, but we do think they understand the importance of keeping their school secure and safe.”
Portions of this document were reprinted with permission from Eden Prairie News, November 19, 2003.
Contact:
Scott Tronson
Alpha Video & Audio, Inc.
7711 Computer Ave
Edina, MN 55435
952.896.9898
www.alphavideo.com