Kids at St. Croix Central Middle School will have a few new eyes on them this year.

Over the summer, a camera security system was installed around the campus. Cameras were in the initial 2004 remodeling plans for the building, but didn’t make the final budget.

Middle School Principal Scott Woodington said the cameras will benefit the students.

“Our two biggies are bullying and missing things,” he said. With the assistance of playback from the cameras’ video feeds, Woodington will be able to verify students’ stories.

Although bullying isn’t out of control at SCCMS, it does happen on occasion.

“One incident is too much,” Woodington said.

The cameras will be no secret to students. They’ll be told about them and told why the district felt they were necessary.

“Ultimately it’s about safety,” Woodington explained. “Everyone is going to use safe behavior, and if they don’t we’ll be able to see them.”

A number of cameras have been installed throughout the middle school. A live feed goes to Woodington’s computer, where he can watch individual cameras or all of them at once. Images are crisp in color and appear as they are happening.

Because the system stores the footage, no one has to watch the screen all day and night. The system has been known to store about three weeks of footage in similar settings, but the exact amount of data is yet to be determined. Footage can also be saved to a permanent storage device, if desired.

More cameras can be installed as needed.

The system is similar to what the St. Croix Central High School currently has, but a different brand.

“I’m really looking forward to it (the system) and a good year,” Woodington said. “We have more incidents than I would like to have happen. It’s not bad, but the cameras will make it better.”