Souhegan council taking close look at camera issue

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

To the Editor:

As one of the most controversial and important topics at Souhegan, the issue of security has been debated frequently over the years, and each time the decision has been the same: to leave Souhegan free of security cameras.

Now, the issue has once more been raised — this time brought by a group of community members who feel the level of theft, bullying, and drug use at Souhegan necessitates higher security measures. What began as a request for security cameras has now morphed into a much larger question: is Souhegan High School really safe?

The group brought their concerns to the Souhegan School Board last November, along with statistical data about theft, bullying, and drug abuse to support their position. The question emerged as to whether the Community Council, Souhegan’s student-led governing body and the venue where such issues would usually be discussed, is equipped for such a wide-reaching issue as security. After some discussion, however, the decision was made to allow the Community Council to lead the debate, working closely with the School Board to gather information from experts in order to make an informed decision that addresses the problems.

The Community Council has taken on the security issue with enthusiasm, and has developed a process to come up with a recommendation for the School Board. After discussions with Bob Thompson, dean of students at Souhegan, and Officer John Smith, Souhegan’s student resource officer (SRO), the Community Council decided to form three committees that will each focus on a different aspect of security, in an effort to look at all sides of the issue and to be as comprehensive as possible.

The first committee will concentrate on surveying the Souhegan community, to get feedback concerning the ways people feel unsafe and explore possible solutions; the second will review the 2006 security audit, and examine past Souhegan security information; and the third will look into the security measures of other schools. After gathering information independently, the three committees will then share their insights with the whole Community Council, and the Council will make a final recommendation to the School Board in April. “We are committed to doing a thorough job so we can write an effective and informed recommendation to the school board,” said Justin DeWaele, Community Council moderator.

The security issue has been raised several times before at Souhegan, usually concerning the use of surveillance cameras throughout the school. So far, the verdict has been to keep Souhegan camera-free, and many Souhegan students and staff members are determined to keep it that way.

“I think cameras would be wrong,” said Valerie Wisneski, a junior at Souhegan. “If Souhegan is a community of learners, born of ‘respect, trust and courage,’ wouldn’t security cameras void the trust part?”

In years past, the main concerns have been that the cameras would be too expensive, ineffective, and most importantly, run counter to the spirit of Souhegan. However, there is more than one way to achieve security, and the Community Council is determined to explore all ideas to come up with a solution which will ensure that everyone at Souhegan feels safe.

SAIRA WEINZIMMER

Mont Vernon