Community Unit School District 95
4:173
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Operations
Use of Video Cameras and Audio Recordings
The Board of Education authorizes the use of video cameras (not audio, except as specified
below) in any school building, school bus, or on any property of the school district to ensure the health,
welfare and safety of all students, staff and visitors, to safeguard school facilities and equipment, and to
allow a student teacher who is completing his/her classroom field experience to satisfy any licensing
requirements. Video cameras may be used or placed in the below-listed locations or in other like
locations as deemed appropriate by the Superintendent to accomplish the purposes of this policy.
Permissible locations:
1. Outdoor facilities: such as parking lots, walkways, picnic areas, athletic fields and stadiums
and points of ingress and egress.
2. Indoor facilities: foyers, lobbies, hallways and other common areas.
3. School buses, both regular and activity buses. The cameras placed on buses shall also
record audio.
Impermissible locations: Video surveillance cameras may not be used or placed in offices,
laboratories, locker rooms, restrooms or any classroom or other location in a school where students
are receiving instruction, unless specifically authorized by this Policy.
The Superintendent shall take steps to notify staff and students through notices to students and parents
and notices to employees that video surveillance may occur on school property pursuant to this policy.
The Superintendent shall cause a notice to be placed on all regular and activity school buses that
riding the bus constitutes the consent of the student and the parent that audio on the bus may be
recorded. A notice informing students and parents of that fact shall also be placed prominently in the
student/parent handbook given to all students.
This policy is based on the presumption and belief that neither students, staff or guests have a
reasonable expectation of privacy in those events that occur in plain view of other students, staff and
guests in those public areas of a school campus subject to video surveillance as described above.
Any information obtained from video cameras (and audio, when permitted) may only be used to support
the orderly operation of the District’s schools and facilities, for law enforcement, and by a student
teacher, with appropriate parent authorization, to satisfy any licensing requirements, and may not be
used for any other purpose. Video and audio surveillance records may be used as evidence in any
disciplinary action, administrative proceeding or criminal proceeding.
In the event a video or audio recording is used or intended for use as evidence in a student or
employee disciplinary proceeding, that recording shall not be deemed a public record and from that
point forward is and shall be considered a confidential student record or a confidential personnel record.
Video and audio recordings may be disclosed to law enforcement personnel and to school
officials with legitimate educational interests. Parents or guardians of students charged with
disciplinary violations may view the relevant portions of any recording relating to the charge upon
written request to the school principal. School personnel may also view the relevant portions of any
recording relating to any disciplinary charge against them upon written request to the school principal.
Parents, guardians, or school personnel should be aware the Board of Education maintains security
camera video recordings for a limited period, so any request under this policy must be made within 15
Adopted: November 21, 2013 (Renumbered Oct. 2014)
Community Unit School District 95
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calendar days of the event. The Board of Education does not maintain any copies of video recordings
created by a student teacher for the purpose of satisfying the student teacher’s licensing requirements.
Video and Audio Recording of School Activities
Parents, students, the public and the media are encouraged and authorized to photograph and/or videotape any school activities to which the public is invited as spectators, including but not limited to:
intramural and interscholastic athletic events, school plays, performances of the band or chorus or any
other similar public event. Neither students nor staff has any reasonable expectation of privacy in
such events. Any student (or student’s parent) who object to this policy, upon a timely written
request, may be excused from participation in the activity. In the event a school is performing a
copyrighted play or music, the school is authorized, as necessary and appropriate, to notify the public
that video or audio taping is prohibited.
Video and Sound Recording of Instruction
As a general rule, students, parents, the public and the media may not video or audiotape classroom
instruction or any other instructional activities that occur in school. It is the opinion and belief of the
Board of Education that students and staff have a reasonable expectation of privacy regarding their
performance in class. Students must feel free to respond to a teacher’s questions, to participate in class
discussions and to develop their vocational, artistic or other educational skills in an environment
conducive to learning.
However, teachers (including student teachers), principals and other school administrators may use audio
and/or videotape for legitimate educational or administrative purposes, including but not necessarily
limited to:
1. Evaluating student and/or teacher performance;
2. Developing student or staff skills through self assessment;
3. Accommodating the needs of students or staff with disabilities;
4. Developing a professional portfolio necessary for a student teacher to satisfy licensing
requirements.
Video or audiotape recordings of students or staff instructional programs or activities are either
confidential student records under applicable law or confidential personnel records and are not public
records. Video recordings created by a student teacher for the purpose of satisfying licensing
requirements are not maintained by the Board of Education or the student teacher and are neither
student, nor public records.
LEGAL REF.:
CROSS REF.:
Illinois School Student Records Act 105 ILCS 5/10-1 et. seq.
FERPA, 20 U.S.C. Section 1232g
Illinois Personnel Records Review Act 830 ILCS 40/0.01et. seq.
Illinois School Code – Educator Testing 105 ILCS 5/21B-30
5:150 (Personnel Records), 7:15 (Family Privacy Rights), 7:190 (Student
Discipline), 7:220 (Bus Conduct), 7:300 (Extracurricular Athletics),
7:340 (Student Records), 8:30 (Visitors to and Conduct on School
Property), 8:40 (Spectator Conduct)
Adopted: November 21, 2013 (Renumbered Oct. 2014)