JAY – School Committee members unanimously voted Thursday to buy security cameras and equipment for all three schools and remaining buses at an estimated cost of $40,000.

Superintendent Robert Wall recommended buying the cameras for the high and middle schools and the buses that don’s have them.

But the committee, with two members absent, opted to spend the additional $5,000 and do all the schools.

Chairman Clint Brooks also spoke to parents’ concerns about not being able to get answers about what was being done to protect their children and other students after a middle school student was accused of terrorizing fellow students Oct. 13.

Parent William Taylor said he tried to find out what was being done and didn’t receive answers from the administration. He said all the superintendent would say is he couldn’t talk about other students.

Taylor said he tried to explain he didn’t want to talk about the student, just what was being done to protect other children.

The student accused in the case was suspended for more than five days by the principal and charged with terrorizing by police.

Brooks said school administration took appropriate action, and the policy could be revisited in the future to look at communication with parents.

Brooks outlined the accused student’s return plan that the boy has to adhere to, which includes:

• meet and change his behavior plan;

• continue to meet with Evergreen Behavioral Service counselor;

• change color group for class purposes;

• have health and art in office until end of first quarter (starting Nov. 6 an education technician in unified arts room);

• no direct contact with certain students unless an adult is present.

• change his homeroom;

• no longer carry around backpack once he gets to school;

• no Internet, which could lead to no laptop;

• locker searches;

• bathroom time limited, escorted/monitored from hallway;

• teachers will monitor him while in hallway between classes;

• once in class not allowed to leave except for emergencies and be monitored;

• no riding regular school bus;

• report to office first thing in morning to have backpack searched;

• extra adult around for recess; and

• be escorted to lunch, the office and unified arts classes by staff member.

Parent Rebecca Yarborough asked about security provisions. She is formerly from Illinois where she said there were metal detectors and security passes.

She also said that her kids are back in school, and she feels comfortable.

Some parents held their children out of school after the accused student returned to school on Oct. 23.

After the parents left, Wall introduced the proposal to buy security cameras and equipment.

The cameras would be installed inside and outside of the schools and would scan the parking lots.

They are looking at assigning student parking spots, he said.

Faculty would also have security cards and would have to swipe them at designated entrances to schools to get in or use the main entrances as students would be required to do.

Cameras would be able to monitor who is in the area and units will scroll and be motion activated, Wall said.

After some discussion on installing a security system at all schools – 10 cameras at each school – the committee approved it.

Members voted to spend up to $20,000 from technology reserve and up to $25,000 from the short-term reserve, which has $32,865.