$4.5 Million Tax Dollars Released For CMS Security Updates

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is one step closer toward revamping school security.

County Commissioners voted unanimously Tuesday to release more money for CMS to make upgrades.

It will cost taxpayers a total of $9 million.

It’s a big plan with lives of children on the line, Commissioner Vilma Leake told Superintendent Dr. Clayton Wilcox at the meeting.

“You make the right decision because if something happens wrong, I’m coming at you. I’m coming directly at you,” said Commissioner Leake.

County Commissioners gave the go ahead to release more than $4.5 million to CMS for phase one of the security upgrades.

“The idea of school safety for 150 thousand young people and 19 thousand employees is probably the heaviest burden that I wear,” said Dr. Wilcox.

Phase one includes real time, digital surveillance cameras at 20 high schools in common areas, portable classrooms and outside venues. It includes 60 visitor management systems and 10,000 panic buttons on teacher ID cards. A teacher can push it repeatedly to alert police of a shooter. A GPS location device can track that teacher.

Phase two will cost another $4.5 million. It includes another 2,000 panic cards, surveillance cameras at 25 middle schools and reconstruction of gates and entry ways.

The Phase One work is underway, Dr. Wilcox said. CMS has installed new or retrofitted camera systems at 13 schools thus far. The work included converting all analog camera systems to digital, installing software upgrades and acquiring additional licensing. The work done thus far has cost $1.6 million.

Dr. Wilcox also said additional security and door locks have been installed at eight schools at a cost of $21,000 and additional perimeter fencing has been installed at three schools at a cost of almost $30,000.

Commissioners asked questions before voting Tuesday. They asked what kind and cost of cameras, what about hacking, how did CMS select which schools to start with. Dr. Wilcox says the district will provide answers.

Commissioners suggest an expert evaluate the plan.

“We want to be able to look the parents in the eyes and say, you know, we got professional help,” said Commissioner Pat Cotham.

The superintendent says the district will look at putting old cameras in elementary schools to get the maximum life out of them.

He says he has done work with CMPD to discuss the systems but needs to discuss with Huntersville Police, Matthews Police and Mint Hill Police.