Liberty approves real-time video access for MCSO

Liberty Elementary School District approved a memorandum of understanding between the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office and the district to allow access to recorded and real-time video of schools.

The agreement is in cooperation with approving a trial of a system called Raven 911, which will reportedly allow school officials instant communication with first responders via a mobile app, in the event of an emergency.

As a stipulation of the pilot, sheriffs will have access to historical video footage or real-time video footage of any camera on Liberty grounds, through a dedicated internet connection.

The memo was approved unanimously by the governing board Tuesday.

Board member Kellie Zimmerman did have reservations before her yes vote.

“I'm just not sure that this is protecting the students of the district,” she said. “Who else could have access to it. One of the concerns that came up in the audit from the AG was allowing people to have too much access. And I think this is a little bit of a slippery slope.”

The American Civil Liberties Union agreed in a 2023 educational technology report.

“Surveillance cameras can create a security vulnerability, such as when an outside hacker gained access to the security cameras at several United Kingdom schools and live-streamed their video feeds online,” the report states.

ACLU’s report also details the paranoia students can feel from constant surveillance and concludes by outlining concerns of some who may have a nefarious intent.

“Rather than being used to stop school shootings, [surveillance] cameras are being used to identify students committing minor infractions of school rules,” it wrote.