Photo: James Rojas/WBZ NewsRadio
SALEM, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — At Collins Middle School in Salem, crews are hard at work installing five new security cameras in the stairways before students head back to school.
"They livestream, they record, they self-delete. They're motion-censored," said Chris O'Donnell, the chief communication officer for Salem Public Schools. The cameras act as an extra safety measure and also cut down on loitering.
"They tend to loiter in stairwells, they can be a very popular meeting place among them," said O'Donnell.
The cameras are paid for by a grant from the STEP Up for Schools Grant Program from Convergint. The company awarded 20 grants to underserved schools across the country to improve their safety and security. In addition to security cameras, they also provide fire alarm inspections and environmental and vape sensors.
WBZ NewsRadio’s James Rojas (@JamesRojas.bsky.social) reports.