Chicago Public Schools will spend $76.3 million to install new security cameras and replace outdated ones at its elementary and high schools — what the district described as a “bold” three-year plan that will help deter and investigate safety incidents on campus.
District leaders made the announcement at a Wednesday press conference at Eli Whitney Elementary School on the city’s Southwest Side and later discussed it during the monthly school board meeting, arguing that expanded security camera coverage is a top priority for principals.
Five high schools and 58 elementary schools will be the first to receive the camera upgrades this school year. Ultimately, about 430 schools will get the technology — all district campuses that do not have up-to-date camera systems. Officials said they are prioritizing schools based on a number of criteria, including the condition of a school’s existing security cameras, the number of safety incidents on campus, and the prevalence of crime in the neighborhood.
