The Story
The school board is taking school safety to the next level: video cameras.
Explain
Remember ‘ole Chip McGee? He applied for and received a security camera grant. Thanks, Chip! We’ll try to remember the good things. The grant will pay 80 percent of the funds for cameras to be put on all of the schools. The rest will be coming out of the operating budget－A.K.A. taxpayer money.
Keep Going
The school board is putting the grant money towards perimeter cameras at Mckelvie, and the three elementary schools because BHS and RAL are already equipped. And, interior cameras will be put outside all of the BHS bathrooms. Because, there’s no way those cute seventh graders are causing any harm in there.
Why do people care?
No one cares about the exterior cameras, but those interior cameras? It’s split pretty even. One of the main reasons: privacy. Although, 68 percent of students that we polled are not at all bothered by the cameras. But parents on the other hand…
Wait, but is it a violation of privacy?
Mmm, not so much. Let’s just say a minor’s right to privacy is a pretty gray area. Basically, you have one, but it’s pretty miniscule because a public school is technically a public place. Hence, the locker and backpack searches, and the school bus cameras. Besides, no one minds grocery store cameras.
Are you kidding me?
Sorry, not sorry! But, you’ll be happy to know these searches, and looking at school bus cameras, only happens when there is some sort of probable cause. No one’s going through your backpack or looking at the camera tape unless they suspect you have something or something happened. So, same would apply to interior cameras.
Is this just another stupid Bedford thing?
Not at all. This is a stupid everywhere thing. Get your facts straight. At least nine other public school districts in the state have interior cameras. Not gonna lie, one of them we’ve never heard of before. So, at least eight other public high schools have interior cameras. Obviously, we should bandwagon on.
The Runaway
The board is putting off the vote, because no one likes to make decisions. They’re all for the exterior cameras, but on the fence for the interior cameras. So we wait.
What to say…
When you just can’t wait for the winter season anymore…
Give me something! Well, we produced our winter sports guide last week, which you should be checking for updates, or following our twitter. However, the Union Leader just put out their first winter sports preview…you ready?…it’s girls basketball. And to be honest, it doesn’t make much sense to us either why this is the first sport they want to talk about. But, we will agree it’s better than swimming. So, what’d they say? Basically: BG rules, everyone else drools. Since BG only lost one starter last year, the Union Leader‘s pretty confidant that they’re going to be making this year their fourth state championship in a row. Bedford players Lizzy Stevenson, Kendi Barnard, Alli Morgan, Amanda Jonas, and Isabella King will hopefully somewhat challenge BG. We mean, here’s to hoping. King is apparently the purest shooter Coach Thomas has ever seen. Does that make the team impure? Is that why we keep losing to BG? We mean, they are a Catholic school…probably as pure as it gets. Stevenson, Barnard, and Morgan were all listed in the Union Leader as players to watch.
When you need another reason that Bedford is better than every other school…
Heard about the Central and Nashua North fights? At Central High School, five girls ganged up on another girl, punching her and pulling her by the hair. Remember those animal fights from Mean Girls? This is the real deal. At Nashua North, 30 students were suspended for watching a fight. Officer Spike told us that at BHS, most of the time, when people know a fight is about to happen, they report it. No, we’re not kidding. Say whatever you want about Bedford parents, but they seem to be doing something right. As a school, we’re going to stick with football, because we’re good at that kind of tackling.
When your friend just keeps getting the facts wrong and you need to set them straight…
Honey, it’s interim superintendent. Get it right. The school board will be opening applications for the superintendent position, and our new superintendent will be effective by July 1. We already talked with Cindy Chagnon about who they’re looking for, and if Mr. Fournier will be considered. Since we hate change, we’re rooting for you, Mr. Fournier. For right now, at least. It all depends on what happens the next time it snows.
Things to Know
To Fuel Your Low Self Esteem
Go watch the talent show this Friday! Cheer for the talented…cry because you’re not talented…it’ll be fun.
Again…
Toys for Tots!! Just bring in one－it’s easy!
To Get You Into That Holiday Spirit
We were feeling festive. Sue us.