Community Corner

Week In Review: School Board OKs Video Surveillance, Police Crack Down On Drunken Driving

A look back at coverage from Dec.12 to 19

Despite a late effort by some members to delay a vote on video surveillance inside its high schools, the Fairfax County School Board moved forward with the policy at its Thursday meeting, calling it another tool to deter theft and bullying and help schools make better use of its resources.

The policy, which passed 8-4, was , will allow cameras to be installed in "hot spots" like cafeterias and lobbies on a school by school basis.

"This leaves [the decision] up to them," Elizabeth Bradsher (Springfield) said. "That's all this policy is asking. We're trying to do this policy for the sake of the community. [They have] the discretion to use these cameras or not. We're ... not saying you have to use them."

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stu Gibson (Hunter Mill), Sandy Evans (Mason), Dan Storck (Mt. Vernon) and Tina Hone (At-large) voted against it.

The most recent version of the policy would require principals to submit documents to prove the program is supported in their communities, saying they must submit data and documents to the superintendent detailing the number and types of meetings, the "sufficiency of time provided for engagement," responses received, methods of communication and a specific plan for camera installation. It also tasks Superintendent Jack Dale with creating an approval process for that data and making sure schools file annual reports detailing how its system is performing.

Find out what's happening in Viennawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Bradsher made a motion to approve the program, but Storck countered it with an amendment to delay decision to no later than April 26. The amendment would have directed Dale to use the extra time to prepare a report summarizing the pros, cons, costs, benefits, and alternatives available. He asked the report be prepared in advance of at least two public dialogue meetings held in February or March 2012 to gather community feedback on the proposed revisions directly.

“[This has] not been the kind of process that we’d all recognize as true engagement,” Storck said. “There was no information ahead of time about the pros, cons, costs, benefits … There was not enough information from the other point of view.”

NEWS

. Area police chiefs to drunken drivers: We'll get you.

. Two-month-old girl dies two days after incident in Falls Church

. Five months after he disappeared, Oscar Velasco Montano, 30, is still missing

. Fairfax police say professionals likely working in larger rings; one Vienna woman's stolen cards rack up $10,000 in charges

. Wednesday blaze on Loch Lomond Drive causes $75,000 in damage

Northern Virginia Human Trafficking Task Force initiative results in charges for business and massage license issues; no human trafficking victims found in simultaneous checks.

Co-defendants charged with trying to bilk Southern Management Corporation Retirement Trust of nearly $10 million.

. A weekly listing of closures, detours, delays in and around Vienna

. The following arrest information was supplied by the Vienna Police Department. It does not indicate a conviction.

. Her business was less than a half-mile from accident site

. Three miles of sound walls planned along Dulles Connector Road

. Last troops crossed into Kuwait Sunday morning.

COMMUNITY/ARTS

. Sam Savia, 85, was a 'Vienna boy' from birth to death, friends say

. Made in Vienna is a series about locally-grown businesses. SCAD, Madison High grad goes into business for himself, launches first product this winter

. Committee For Helping Others event at Vienna Presbyterian Church has helped the needy for more than 40 years

. C. Flint Webb earns Community Service Award for environmental work in the district

. Twenty-fifth annual Santa's Ride benefits sick children in local hospitals.

. Vienna Volunteer Fire Department brings Mr. Claus to Vienna neighborhoods this season

. A weekly listing of deals in and around Vienna

SCHOOLS/SPORTS

. Strings, band, choral groups perform for classmates, parents

. Under coach Kirsten Roberts, Warhawks look to capture fourth Liberty District title in five years

. Madison girls basketball moves to 3-2, takes share of Liberty District lead

. Our biking columnist gives a guide to buying for the biker in your life

. All-senior starting lineup expected to lead 2011-12 squad

. Students will compete Saturday on NBC's "It's Academic"


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