New security systems at Tallassee Schools having big impact

TALLASSEE, AL (WSFA) - Cutting-edge surveillance at Tallassee City Schools is beefing up security system-wide and the new enhancements are already making a big difference.

At Tallassee High School, a quick look at the corners of buildings, over doorways and at access points will tell you that security is extensive. And the equipment is top of the line.

"There's improved quality of all the cameras that basically allows us to see in much approved detail some of the things that go on at our campuses. It's been very beneficial to us," said Wade Shipman, Superintendent of Tallassee City School.

There are nearly 80 new cameras at the high school.

Southside Middle School and Tallassee Elementary School also have new security cameras.

The old systems were replaced over Christmas break thanks to a nearly $130,000 grant from The Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The schools wrote for a grant last spring and they received $42,000 each for security improvements. For the high school, the Board of Education added funds to make necessary upgrades. Because the campus is so spread out, it requires more cameras.

Matt Coker, the principal of Tallassee High School, applied for the grant and said the funds have gone a long way in protecting students.

"We replaced our entire camera system. The system was probably 25 years old. It was pretty obsolete. We were able to update that with state-of-the-art equipment," he said. "We now have 78 cameras and two 60 inch monitors that work separately. We have remote log-in. It's been incredible as far as what that's meant to the school as far as safety. We have an older with a lot of exits and entrances that need to be monitored. It's allowed us to do that. It also does not hurt with discipline. Our students are aware that we have a very good system."

There are two servers that were built specifically for the new system so it does not pull from the school's internet strength. Students and faculty still have full internet access.

Cameras were rolling from every angle last month when 14-year-old Kiara Neal got into a man's car at Tallassee High School and disappeared.

"It helped recently with identifying and locating a car that was on campus and led to a really good break in the case. We were able to zero in on the tag number and the police were able to run that tag and locate that individual," Coker explained.

The driver, Willie Thomas, 30, was charged with contributing to the delinquency of a minor in the case. Two weeks after she went missing, Kiara was found safe in Brewton, Alabama and brought back to Tallassee.

Shipman says the new system also helped identify several children who broke into the middle school.

"We had an incident where some students had come on campus after hours and gotten into one of our schools that the cameras helped us to identify," he explained. "We've been able to use the camera system to identify some threats and some problems. It will deter some behavior and some, it won't. But it will help us at the end solve whatever the problem was."

He commended school administrators for overseeing the equipment and placing it where needed. Parents are also touting the overhaul.

"I think it's a great asset for our schools," one mother said. "The cameras give me a sense of security when my kids are at school."

The improvements are ongoing. Officials say there's a big chance more cameras will be added.

"We're still finding places where we may want to add cameras or adjust them, just keep looking for ways to make our campus safe," Coker said.

"We have already looked at a couple of places at the high school campus where we might want to add a couple of cameras and that's the beauty of the system. We can add some cameras where there are needs and accommodate those needs and make sure that we have all of our entrances and exits and hallways covered the way we want them covered," Shipman added.

At Tallassee Elementary School, a new limited access door was just installed where people must register at the front and swipe security pads to enter the building.

Some capital improvement projects are also in the works at Tallassee City Schools, including paving at each of the schools as well as improving fencing and striping of parking lots and the direction of traffic flow. Improvements are also being made to the baseball and softball facility, which is part of a three year plan.

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