In accordance with a new state law, Leander ISD has been preparing to place cameras in some special education classrooms as the first day of school approaches.

The Texas Legislature approved Senate Bill 507 during the legislative session in 2015, which requires districts to provide audio and video surveillance equipment to campuses to install in certain classrooms serving students in special education programs. The bill was signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June 2015, and the law is set to be applied in districts throughout the state starting with the 2016-17 school year.

LISD has about 100 classrooms that would meet the law’s definition of special education, and it would cost $800,000 to $1 million to equip all of those with cameras, LISD Senior Communication Specialist Jennifer Bailey said. However, the law only requires districts to install equipment if a parent, school board member or staff member requests it inside a specific special education classroom, said DeEtta Culbertson, information specialist with the Texas Education Agency.

Since January, a task force within LISD has been meeting to ensure the law will be implemented effectively in the district, said Veronica Sopher, assistant superintendent of community and government relations with LISD.

“We see this as being a positive for our students and our families and our staff, but we also know that it’s not as simple as going around and putting a camera [in a classroom],” she said. “There’s a lot that goes into that, so we have to work through everything.”

Sopher said paying for the cameras and equipment has been left to individual districts, and the law also requires districts to store the recordings for at least six months. Culbertson said districts are able to accept donations to help with camera expenses and said districts would be able to file for reimbursement with the TEA for some equipment.

Aside from finding funds for the cameras, Sopher said LISD has also had trouble locating memory space that can store the footage.

“We’ve had to do quite a bit of legwork, seeing how we can even support that particular part of the requirements,” she said.

Bailey said only a handful of people have requested cameras in district classrooms so far. In preparation, staff purchased eight cameras, three microphones and additional equipment for function and storage to fulfill the requests of those parents, Bailey said.

In the past, Sopher said the district has not had an investigation in one of these classrooms that was impeded by a lack of audio recording or video.

“We have processes and systems in place that have historically allowed us to have successful investigations,” she said. “The camera element is an added layer, but it’s not something that has hindered us in the past.”

Debi McNiff, who serves as parent liaison for special education in LISD, has a son with disabilities who was enrolled in special education in the district. McNiff said having camera footage of the classrooms was not something she was concerned with when her son was in school, though she said she understands if another parent wants cameras in the classroom.

“As long as everyone is protected, that these videos cannot be used outside of what the main purpose is for, then I can understand,” McNiff said. “I think if it’s used appropriately, it will be good.”

The state law puts parameters on who can view the footage, such as a district staff member or officer with Texas Child Protective Services, Culbertson said. The school districts will also have to adopt policies and procedures to implement the law, she said.

“They’re going to have to have a local policy as to how they handle the requests [for equipment],” Culbertson said. “So basically once they get that request, that policy will also dictate how quickly they put the cameras in place.”

Culbertson said the TEA released official program and finance rules Aug. 15, which districts across the state needed in order to create local policies.

Sopher said the cameras may not be turned on in classrooms by the first day of school, but she said the district will ensure it is meeting the requirements of the law.

“We want to make sure we’re in compliance and that we’re meeting the needs of our students, families and our teachers,” she said.