Security cameras for Great Bend USD 428’s new Support Services facility at 625 East 10th St. come with a hefty price tag – over $30,000 – Assistant Superintendent John Popp acknowledged Monday. After discussion, the board approved the quote. Later in the meeting, Popp would explain why all of the district’s security cameras need to be replaced.
For the Support Services facility, the company Verkada has provided a government quote for 16 outdoor dome cameras and two multi-sensor dome cameras for $17,825.65. In addition to the cost of the cameras, a five-year camera license is required, bringing the total to $31,091.25.
“It’s a costly system,” Popp said, but the security features are “robust.” This system “is probably the best of the best,” but it was by no means the most expensive quote he looked at. Verkada provided its quote to the Greenbush purchasing cooperative the district uses.
This purchase was prompted by the completion of the new facility, but soon the district will need to other security cameras, Popp said.
“We could replace what we have (with similar cameras) but not get the prevention software. The cameras we have right now are already antiquated.”
The biggest purchase of security cams will be at Great Bend High School, where up to 150 are needed. While that would be the “dream system,” Popp said, “we’ll start with much less than that.” Again, just purchasing the cameras is only half of the cost, with additional expenses for licenses.
“We’re going to start small and try to build up,” Popp said. In that regard, the purchase approved Monday is “kind of the guinea pig to see where we go from here.”
Board members questioned the cost, with president Jacquie Disque asking if the district could find a bigger discount and Lori Reneau asking if the improved security might lead to a break on insurance costs.
“There’s some community concern over our spending,” board member Deanna Essmiller said, but member Aaron Emerson stressed the purchase is for improved security.
Popp said that while GBHS cameras will be the most expensive project, possibly costing $150,000 to $200,000, the district has written a grant that will pay for $45,000 of that and requires a $45,000 match.
Director of Teaching & Learning JoAnn Blevins, who was a building principal until this year, said better cameras are needed. “It’s very difficult on the current system,” she said. New technology available to the district includes facial recognition software and 30-day data storage in each camera. Storage space is an issue now, but won’t be when data is saved to the cloud.
Disque said that although the cameras are expensive, they aren’t just for one group of students. “This affects every one of our students –”
“–and every person who walks into one of our buildings,” Popp said.
