Leeds City Schools in Alabama has implemented facial recognition technology to enhance campus safety. The district believes in prioritizing the safety of its students and staff, which led them to invest in the most expensive camera software on the market. The system, which cost $95,000, includes License Plate Recognition (LPR) technology as well.
The primary goal of the facial recognition technology is to provide immediate access to law enforcement in case of emergencies such as an active shooter situation. If an intruder is detected, the system can track their movement live on the cameras, allowing law enforcement to respond quickly.
To demonstrate how the technology works, Andrew Jackson, Supervisor of Instructional Technology for Leeds City Schools, uploaded a photo of a news reporter into the system. Within seconds, the system pulled up footage from different areas of Leeds Primary School, such as the parking lot, front entrance, and lobby. Jackson explained that the algorithm becomes more accurate with each click of a star that he assigns to the reporter’s image.
Anyone added to the watchlist will be tracked in a similar manner, and school officials will receive an alert if someone on the watchlist is detected on campus. This feature has already proven useful in everyday situations, such as tracking students who accidentally wander onto the wrong bus.
Leeds Primary School Principal Steven Porter expressed his approval of the system, stating that it gives parents peace of mind knowing that their children are safe. The district is also in the process of uploading registered sex offenders into the system to further enhance security measures.
It’s important to note that the district emphasizes that the system is not meant to invade privacy or act as big brother. Instead, it enhances existing safety procedures such as ensuring all doors are locked at all times. The use of artificial intelligence and facial recognition technology simply adds an extra layer of security.
In conclusion, Leeds City Schools has taken a proactive approach to campus safety by implementing facial recognition technology. The district’s focus on providing a secure environment for students and staff has led them to invest in an advanced system that can track individuals on a watchlist and provide real-time information to law enforcement if necessary. This technology not only enhances safety during critical situations but also proves useful in day-to-day scenarios, allowing school officials to quickly locate students when needed.
