Waterford Today

The Clarkston Community School District were presented with the request to purchase a round of security cameras to be installed in their district buses at a recent board meeting.

The request would have equipped all of the 50 buses in their fleet and the board revealed that Moss of Grand Rapids had provided a bid for a total of $448,979.

The district has a 58 square mile boundary and they transport over 4,000 students 4,000 miles daily. After weighing the pros and cons of the measure, the board did approve the purchase.

Board member Amanda Love questioned the purchase request and the meeting was opened up for discussion because of the purchase price. Love added that the main concern about their transportation department coming from parents is timeliness for routes, especially on half-days. She said she would like to know more about the need for the cameras before giving the proposal the green light.

Superintendent Shawn Ryan said that every district in Oakland County, except for Clarkston, utilized the cameras and that they were trying to catch up to their peers. He added that there have been a number of discipline issues on busses and the security cameras would be used to address the situations as opposed to students' phone cameras.

District staff explained that the state of Michigan was giving some safety funding to schools and Clarkston had $109 per pupil to spend before June of 2024. They were planning to use some of that money for this purchase, not taking it out of the general fund, which made Love feel better about the purchase.

“I don't like the idea of having to do this, Dr. Ryan, but certainly to increase safety for our students and the transportation program,” said Trustee Steve Hyer. “You know, it's great that we have the grant, but, you know, it's just one of those things that I wish we didn't have to do it, but it seems like the time has come where it's a necessity for the safety of our students.”

There are roughly 50 students on each bus with the bus driver having to monitor the students and bring them back and forth to campus. The district had hoped that the installation of cameras would mitigate bad behavior.

While the measure has not been approved, Ryan said that the Oakland County Sheriff had encouraged the purchase and he hoped the discussion was a step in the right direction until they are able to get some more staffing for their transportation department.