Today, we start a series of what different school districts are implementing to make the ride to and from school and activities, safer for our students  We start with Strongsville, Ohio.

The Strongsville City Schools, Ohio board, at its meeting on July 15, unanimously approved the purchase of 260 interior video surveillance cameras, which will cost approximately $121,131, according to a board meeting video. The systems will be installed — for the first time — on most of the district’s spare buses and those that are used for daily routes and field trips.

Cameron Ryba, the superintendent for Strongsville City Schools, told the board that the funding for the cameras comes from the district’s more than $200,000 in annual savings from buying larger and fewer school buses, instead of its usual purchase of five smaller school buses.  The systems will be purchased and installed by REI and will feature a total of four cameras on the buses to capture video footage of the interior of the school bus.

“The problem that we’re trying to fix and address [by installing the cameras] is the fact that we have no documentation of surveillance on our buses,” Ryba told the board. “First and foremost, it’s about the safety of our students on the buses and being able to have that video footage, should we need it.”

George Grozan, a member of the board, added in the video that the cameras will help hold students accountable for their actions and create a safe environment for students while on their ride to and from school.