Security cameras planned for more Chicago schools

CHICAGO — Security cameras linked directly to police stations may be coming to more than a dozen troubled Chicago high schools in a bid to create a safer atmosphere in the nation's third-largest school district.

Chicago Public Schools CEO Jean-Claude Brizard has proposed the approximately $7 million strategy, following a pilot program at Fenger High School. In 2009, a Fenger honors student was beaten to death by a group of teens in attack that was caught on camera. The widely-circulated video prompted outrage nationwide and several safety measures have been instituted at the high school since then.

Brizard said the cameras are important even as the district with more than 400,000 students faces a $612 million deficit.

"Despite the tough economic times facing our district, we're taking additional steps to reduce crime and create a school environments that are safe for students and staff, which is vital for teaching and learning," Brizard said in a statement Sunday. "Enhancing and maintaining a real sense of safety and creating a positive environment within our schools is a significant tool in driving student outcomes."

Schools officials said misconduct, arrests and crimes have dropped dramatically at the high school on the city's South Side since installation of the high-tech camera system. The system also is installed at two other high schools.

Under the plan, cameras would be expanded to high schools with higher numbers of arrests and misconduct cases. Schools selected to receive cameras are: Clemente, Hyde Park, Sullivan, Morgan Park, Orr, Marshall, Dunbar, Tilden, Bogan, Wells, Senn, Juarez, Julian and Farragut.

Other safety measures were instituted at Fenger after the death of Derrion Albert, one of its students. In a cellphone video that circulated worldwide after it was posted online, Albert's attackers are seen punching and kicking him, slamming him over the head with large boards and finally, stomping on his head. The attack occurred on a street a few blocks from Fenger.

Last week, a 20-year-old man was sentenced to 32 years in prison for his role in the beating, making him the fourth of five defendants in the case to receive lengthy prison terms.