A few extra eyes will be watching students at Austin High School when they return to school Tuesday.

On Friday Pro Tec Design out of Plymouth finished installing 32 more cameras in the second and third floors of the building, said AHS Principal Joe Brown. A total of four cameras were also installed in the cafeteria and gym.

Cameras had already been installed on the first floor and basement in the school a year ago, Brown said.

"When we put these in, the number of discipline cases and fights were eliminated on first floor," Brown said, adding that a couple of fights happened on second floor during last year.

The cameras are installed in the hallways and stairways.

"We hope it just eliminates all of the fights, all harassment," Brown said.

Now 52 digital cameras, costing a total of $50,000 are installed throughout the building. The cameras are monitored by the school liaison and can be linked to a personal computer. They operate on motion sensors, so they only record when they detect motion, Brown said.

The information the cameras tape can be stored and retrieved later if evidence of an incident is needed, Brown said.

"If anything happens (students) can report it right away and we can look back," Brown said.

Students will be informed about the new security on Tuesday in mini-assemblies, consisting of 100 students at a time, Brown said.

"They really appreciate (the cameras) because kids don't like to get ripped off," Brown said of AHS students he has spoken with.

Besides the cameras, administrators try to be in the hallways during the day to watch for safety issues. At the mini-assemblies, Brown also goes over harassment procedures and tells them what will not be tolerated.

A survey of the students last year showed that almost 90 percent of them felt safe at all times while at school, Brown said.

"It's extremely high," he said.

Cari Quam can be reached at 434-2235 or by e-mail at :mailto:cari.quam@austindailyherald.com