Grayslake North secures computer camera system

An upgraded security camera system is on the way to Grayslake North High School.

Grayslake High School District 127 board members Thursday night agreed to pay $56,000 to Closed Circuit Innovations for installation of a system that operates from computer servers instead of DVRs.

Michael Zelek, the district's associate superintendent for business services, said the DVR-based security cameras haven't been working properly at Grayslake North, necessitating the move to a more high-tech system. He said about 25 of the school's 140 cameras were down at one point this year.

Under the computer server-based camera system, a full month of activity can be stored instead of one week.

"It records only positive motion," District 127 board member Phil Lippert said, "so you don't record a 24-hour period with nothing."

Preliminary work was expected to start today at Grayslake North, said Zelek.

Security camera expenses have become routine at suburban schools.

Last month, Grayslake Elementary District 46 authorized spending $49,850 to have cameras installed in the hallways at two school buildings. Grayslake Middle and Frederick School each will have 20 to 30 cameras.

Officials said the decision to buy the hallway cameras was the result of bomb threats that were written on bathroom walls at Frederick and Grayslake Middle in April.