Attorney general wants cameras in schools

Attorney General Buddy Caldwell was the keynote speaker recently at the 2009 School Climate Safety Summit in Alexandria. Specifically, Caldwell told the crowd of superintendents, principals and educators about the need for each school to install cameras in its hallways and around its perimeters. He says if someone knows that the cameras are watching, they’re less likely to do something illegal. “We can’t have kids learning anything if they’ve got bullets flying over their heads, or they’re worried about getting bullied or gangs in our schools” says Caldwell. “We need to get back to the basics.” With a regular session of the Legislature just around the corner – lawmakers will assemble on April 27 – some are wondering if Caldwell will pursue legislation mandating cameras in schools, especially in light of his recent comments. Tammi Arender, Caldwell’s press secretary, says that won’t happen because the attorney general prefers to that the initiative begin as a grassroots effort. “He is not working on any legislation to that effect,” she said by email, “but he’d like to see school boards do it on their own.” – Jeremy Alford