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Baltimore County Public School Safety Upgrades Worth Multi-Millions

PERRY HALL, Md. (WJZ)—Baltimore County is stepping up efforts to get eyes into its public school buildings.

Pat Warren has more on new networks of security.

The system is part of a series of improvements since the Perry Hall High School shooting two years ago.

What police can see on camera may help in the unforeseen.

The 2012 Perry Hall High School shooting in Baltimore County turned the spotlight on school safety.

"The August of 2012 incident in Perry Hall was then followed by the December Newtown tragedy, and it really got me thinking about what we need to do to secure our schools. We did a total analysis of security needs for all our schools," said Kevin Kamenetz, Baltimore County executive.

This integrated camera network gives police an inside view of school buildings

"We want to make sure that when parents send their kids to our schools they are indeed safe when they get there and they're safe when they get home," said Dallas Dance, Baltimore County Schools superintendent.

The camera system is working in elementary schools and the county is on a fast track to outfit middle and high schools, with an additional $9.5 million of improvements, including a card identification system.

"Both the school and the parents will be able to go online to see exactly what time their child entered that school and what time that child left," Kamenetz said.

Cards will also be issued to faculty and staff.

County Council is expected to approve $9.5 million for the current security system and additional upgrades at its meeting in November.

Baltimore County has spent $3.5 million on security upgrades since 2012.

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