John F. Kennedy Jr.

School - PS 721Q
2019

Security Camera System- Reso- A Proposal

Amount - $200,000

Introduction
The John F. Kennedy Jr. High School, PS721Q, is a highly specialized Alternative Assessment
High School in District 75 for students with special needs. We serve students diagnosed with
multiple disabilities including cognitive delays, autism spectrum disorders (ASD), multiple
disabilities, and speech and language delays. We serve over 498 students and have over 306 staff
members. Many of our students communicate in varied ways; verbally, sign language, picture
symbols, eye gaze and Augmentative Communication Systems. They benefit from repetition and
hands on experiences. Our school emphasizes transition into adult life and independence.

​Our student motto is “The JFK Jr. School-Working Towards Independence.” The school’s vision
is to empower all JFK Jr. School students to reach their full potential for independence at school,
home and the community. We use a multi-faceted approach where highly dedicated and trained
staff instruct students in life, social, vocational, academic and self-advocacy skills. Our core value
is to guide students toward their highest individual levels of independence. Our mission
statement is “We Care” which stands for:

W = Welcome
E = Empathy

C = Community
A = Advocacy
R = Respect
E = Excellence

Our school would immensely benefit from obtaining a digital video surveillance system. The
current video surveillance system was installed over 20 years ago. It is easy to say that it is
outdated. Our current system has an original CCTV (closed circuit television) set up. This means
that we have a system of analog cameras that use the same technology that was used in televisions
a few decades before digital technology was widely available. Therefore, the visual feed from the
cameras to the monitors is transmitted through a coax style cable. The monitors are connected to
the cameras through an analog cable just like older model cable televisions from the 1980s. This
wiring is cumbersome and has been known to stop working. Our current recording system only
saves information for one week and then rerecords new information.
 Current School Surveillance Technology

Currently, we only have three monitors to view what is happening on the cameras: one in the
principal’s office, one in the back room that we can rewind and review and one at the safety
agent’s desk. We always have two safety agents stationed at opposite ends of the first floor
hallway to secure the exits. But only one safety agent can see what is happening on the cameras.

In addition, there are only cameras on the first floor. The second and third floor do not have
cameras. We currently have nine outdated cameras that only cover the first floor exit doors, the
cafeteria, the Multi Purpose Room and the front yard.

Surveillance Technology Needs of the School

Essentially, we are looking to update to a new ​Internet Protocol Digital Video Surveillance
system. This system would record to a cloud based network and not to a device like a VCR. ​ It is
necessary to include a digital surveillance system and door alarm at our school to ensure the
safety of our students and staff. Not only is it important for our school, but it is also a citywide
initiative as the New York City Council has allocated funds for all schools to have video
surveillance systems by 2024. In addition to the shift to a more modern digital video surveillance
system and door alarm, it is also imperative that our school have access to these tools, since it will
allow for advanced features to record and save data for our staff to view at any time necessary.

First Floor:
As it currently stands, the digital video surveillance system on the first floor of our school only
displays the exits (when students enter and leave the school) and elevators (when students enter
and exit the elevators). It is crucial that our school safety agents and staff be able to observe the
entire hallway. Since our school has students with varying special needs, it is important to have
accessibility to view students in all spaces on the first floor: where students enter/exit the school,
eat in the cafeteria, go to the main office, go to the gym or the auditorium (Multi Purpose room).
These digital cameras will essentially help us to identify students who are missing, during our
missing child protocols. Many parents and visitors also come to the first floor to visit the school.
It is very important to have access to the video surveillance system to view all individuals who
enter and leave the building, especially since our school has hard lockdown and shelter-in
protocols, which inform us if there is an intruder in the building. The digital surveillance system
and door alarm are paramount for these emergency protocols at our school, so that safety agents
and staff can observe and ensure the school, including students and staff are safe.

Second & Third Floor:

It is also necessary to provide video surveillance of the staircases and elevators on the second and
third floor, in order to aid staff with missing child protocols. We will be able to view and
effectively monitor all students who run or wander away from a staff member and leave the floor
by way of staircase or elevator. The video surveillance system and door alarm will allow safety
agents to catch students in their tracks, as security staff and our school’s Building Response Team
will be able to instantaneously see footage on the camera or receive an alert from the door alarm,
so they will know which door was triggered and which one they should access to retrieve the
student. These systems in place at the school will, in effect, lessen the chance of missing child
protocols overall. This is not only very important for the wellbeing of our students, but also for
staff and parents to have security that their students/children are safe.

Current Legislation: Avonte’s Law

This connects to our current legislation as Avonte’s law was passed in March 2018. This law
allows for loved ones who have Alzheimer’s disease, autism and related conditions to be located
if they are missing. Senator Amy Klobuchar has stated: “This legislation will help to educate and
train caregivers to prevent wandering and provide our law enforcement officers with the tools
they need to help recover missing loved ones”. It is therefore imperative for our school staff to
have access to the necessary tools (a digital video surveillance system) as many of our students in
the school are on the autism spectrum. In particular, our school has 40-45% percent of students on
the autism spectrum. These students need reliable technology to aid their safety like the digital
video surveillance system displayed below. It would be a tremendous aid to our school if this
grant were awarded to us so that we may ensure the safety of our students with special needs and
the staff who care for and educate them.

The new system being requested is the: ​Internet Protocol Digital Video Surveillance, through
Genetec Omnicast.

Surrounding Areas

We are located off multiple highway exits and adjacent to a three lane (one-way) street. We have
a sizable gated schoolyard that is kept locked during the school day. There are 3 floors and 8 exit
points (4 exits in the school yard, 4 exits to the street). There are 2 elevators located across one
another and 2 stairwells at either end of the building.

Inventory Requested

As described in the chart below, we need all new wiring and a monitor(s) for this system. Since
the old equipment is faulty, does not monitor the hallways in our school for more than one week
at a time and sometimes does not work, we would like to remove old equipment and buy new
technology. It would be as if we are starting from scratch by replacing all cables and cords,
upgrading the wiring, and converting the system to a software based access system. The system
we are requesting has to be an ​Internet Protocol Digital Video Surveillance system. We will also
need a server update and digital file storage system installed. All of the items we are requesting
are seen in the chart below.
# Item Description Quantity Cost

1 Indoor IP HD security cameras
(IP66 Rating to protect against dust
and environmental elements)Power
Over Ethernet (PoE)
the cameras will be placed indoors covering 19 $5,700
all the exits and they will be fixed ($300.00x19)
3 on the third floor (entrance to stairs and elevator)
3 on the second floor (entrance to stairs and
elevator)
And 19 for the ground floor (covering exits and
entrances)

2 Elevator IP HD security cameras these cameras will monitor activity in the 2 $700
Cameras (View DR (120dB) for elevators ($350x2)
areas that have lighting
differences)

3 PC computers with live feeds to 1 monitor will be placed in the principal's 4 $8,000
the cameras office ($2,000x4)
1 will be places in the the server room
the remaining 2 will be placed at each
security desk.

4 Outdoor security cameras these cameras will monitor activity in the 5 $6,340
PTZ (Pan, Tilt, Zoon (PTZ) school yard and on both streets where the ($1,268.00x5)
capability (IP66) K10 rating for school has exits.
vandal resistant housing)

5 Cloud based software w/36TB this is where we will save our video and be 1 $20,000
storage able to pull up from a web-based system

6 Installation We will need to pay for expert installation 1 $29,260

7 Installation Equipment ethernet cords, HDMI, casings, lining $50,000

8 Server Update So that our cameras would not slow down the 1 $80,000
system.

Total cost as outlined - $200,000.00

Images of Technology & Needs
1st Floor, North Exit (by gym)
1st Floor, South Exit (by cafeteria)1st Floor, South

Stairway B Exit (by cafeteria)

Currently has no camera.

1st Floor, Elevators
Cafeteria
3rd Floor, Stairs A  

 
Currently has no camera.
 
3rd Floor, Stairs B
Currently has no camera.
3rd Floor, Elevators

Currently has no camera.

2nd Floor, Stairs A

Currently has no camera.

2nd Floor, Stairs B  

Currently has no camera.

2nd Floor, Elevators  

Currently has no camera. 

 
 
Large Elevator  

 
Currently has no camera.
Small Elevator

Currently has no camera.

Main Entrance - View of Courtyard (South End)

Currently has no camera.

Gym Entrance - View of Courtyard (North End)

Currently has no camera.

Main Entrance Camera

Camera has view of main entrance.

Gym Entrance Camera

Camera has view of main entrance (gym side).

Corner of building on 57th St., near parking
garage

Currently no camera.

Delivery Entrance on 57th St.

Currently no camera.
Corner of building on 94th St. & 57th St.

Currently no camera.

Corner of building on 57th St. & 94th St.

Currently no camera.
Corner of building on 94th St. (Bus Exit)

Currently no camera.