Gilbert Public Schools board members unanimously agreed to grant the Gilbert and Mesa Police Departments emergency access to the district’s surveillance system as part of an intergovernmental agreement on Aug. 23.
The agreement, which was approved at a school board meeting, permits police access to on-campus surveillance only during emergency situations. According to the agreement, an “emergency” in accordance with the agreement is when “articulable facts indicate that a significant threat to the health or safety of a student or other individuals exists.”
Access to surveillance footage for any reason aside from an emergency without approval from the District is prohibited, and regulations in respect to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act are also detailed in the agreement.
The campus surveillance systems will be tested routinely to ensure access is available in case of emergencies. The agreement will last 5 years, according to the agreement document, and renewal can be requested by either party at least 60 days prior to the termination date, Aug. 9. The intergovernmental agreement can not be modified or extended unless by a mutually signed written document.
Katelyn Reinhart graduated from Arizona State University's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. A longtime resident of the Valley, she specializes in community coverage — bylines include The Arizona Republic, Community Impact Newspaper, Artzbeat and more.
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