I agree with Casey. 

Further, the district cannot unilaterally place a camera in your teaching space. According to law, this is a mandatory subject of bargaining with your local teacher's union. If it were me, I would contact a union rep to get additional advice and support. 

And not for nothing, but Tom Mooney, the author of the opinion that I shared earlier, literally wrote the book on teachers and the law in CT. If he says that this amounts to an unfair labor practice--believe him. Good luck.

Thanks,

Jamie

 


Jamie Sepa
Library Scientist and
K-12 Library/Media Coordinator
Simsbury Public Schools
860.658.2251 ext. 118

 

Think Dangerously™



On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 8:56 AM LaPlante, Casey via CASL-L <casl-l@mylist.net> wrote:
This is where I would strongly argue against cameras in my workspace--the chance that they could be used to comment on how I spend my time at work. No other teacher has cameras on them all day; honestly, I don't know any other staff that does. It seems like a complete invasion of my privacy as an employee. There are so many reasons why teachers don't have cameras in their classrooms, and I am a teacher and this is my work environment.

Casey



On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 8:39 AM Anderson Halbert, Kirsten <kirsten.anderson@stoningtonschools.org> wrote:
When we renovated our schools in 2018, 2 cameras that feed directly to the police dept were installed in the library, either end of the library and check out is in the middle so can't capture it. But it has been used to comment about what I'm doing when teaching.... 

The only other spaces that are taught in that also have cameras are in the gym.

On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 8:19 AM Lauren Yansick <yansickl@shermanschool.com> wrote:
This is super interesting to hear all the reasons why admins are either in favor or against it. 2/3 districts I have worked in over the last 15 years have had cameras in the library. This time around a camera was installed in the library without asking me first. I don't mind it so much because there is no audio and it does not face my desk. One district I was in the camera was linked to the police station and one of the cops admitted that they just peek at it when they are bored, ect. 

Cameras are such a touchy subject and it can really swing both ways. I personally find it extremely hypocritical that cameras are installed in the libraries and not the classrooms. We are on the same contract as teachers. 

On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 8:05 AM Tracy Earnshaw <tearnshaw@rsd13.org> wrote:
I find this issue so interesting!  Two principals ago I asked for a camera so I could better monitor an area of the library.  I was told I couldn't do it because of student privacy, even if I didn't record them.  I guess it is subjective whether a library is considered a classroom or not!  

Tracy Earnshaw

Teacher Librarian

Frank Ward Strong Middle School

Regional School District 13

191 Main Street | Durham, CT 06422

O: 860.349.7222 | tearnshaw@rsd13.org

Visit us at: http://strong.rsd13ct.org

"Books may well be the only true magic." --Alice Hoffman

Coginchaug Regional High School

135 Pickett Lane | P. O. Box 280 | Durham, CT 06422

O: 860.349.7215 | tearnshaw@rsd13.org

Visit us at: http://crhs.rsd13ct.org

"Books may well be the only true magic." --Alice Hoffman


On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 7:55 AM Tenley Stoltz <tenley.stoltz@somers.k12.ct.us> wrote:
Good morning,

Our LMC does have a camera. I didn't want one, but after there was a fight in the makerspace I was overruled. It is a broad angle camera that shows the majority of the space. You can't see the computer, but I did find out recently that you can see me. ☹️ I had been told when it was installed that it had been angled to not show the circulation desk, so I'm less than thrilled. The only reason I'm ok with it is because I know they only check the footage when there has been an issue and they are looking for a student. 

Tenley

On Wed, Jan 15, 2025 at 7:21 AM Jamie Sepa <jsepa@simsburyschools.net> wrote:
Good morning all,
I would say no. Here is a recent opinion about something similar in classrooms. The library is my classroom.

Your idea to place surveillance cameras in classrooms more broadly is very different and especially concerning.  Setting aside how intrusive teachers would find such cameras, the State Board of Labor Relations has ruled that placement of surveillance cameras in the workplace is a mandatory subject of negotiations.  See, e.g., City of Hartford, Decision No. 4719 (St. Bd. Lab. Rel., March 19, 2014).  Accordingly, it would be an unfair labor practice for you to place surveillance cameras in classrooms unless your school district and the teachers’ union agree through negotiations that you may do so (which will never happen). 

The full text of the article is here.


Thanks,

Jamie

 


Jamie Sepa
Library Scientist and
K-12 Library/Media Coordinator
Simsbury Public Schools
860.658.2251 ext. 118

 

Think Dangerously™



On Tue, Jan 14, 2025 at 8:59 PM CASL President <president@ctcasl.org> wrote:
Hmm. That is an interesting one. I don't know much about this, but I don't like the idea of the checkout screen being seen. 

What is the rationale for having them? I understand security, but is there something that has been happening?

Jenny Lussier
CASL President

Connecticut Association of School Librarians Organization Address:

4 Wotton Lane

Burlington, CT 06013





On Tue, Jan 14, 2025 at 4:22 PM Elizabeth Wright <liz.sarah.wright@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all!

I was wondering who has security cameras in their libraries as a part of the security of the school. My principal seems to think that putting a camera in the space is a good idea. The biggest worry I have is where they’re talking about putting it, which would give the camera a view of our checkout screen.

But I’m wondering how others see this!

Thanks,
Liz
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