The school is paying for the system on a five year lease-purchase agreement. Of course, the more elaborate the system the higher the cost. The use of color cameras in lieu of black and white also increases costs. But color cameras may be worthwhile because of their effectiveness in identifying the color of clothing, skin tone, and any objects a student may be carrying. Fred Zagurski, CPP, an Edmonds, Washington, security consultant who helped the Renton school district design and install its surveillance system, advocates using color cameras indoors and black and white cameras outside, since black and white cameras operate in a wider range of lighting.
Systems have ongoing maintenance and personnel costs as well.
Hardware alone is not enough, says Norfolk's Hylton. Sufficient and appropriate personnel must be hired to work with it, a further expense. Safety is probably the primary motivating factor for funneling limited school dollars in this direction, but school officials can also point to the savings from protecting property as proof that the system ultimately pays for itself. As mentioned earlier, savings can be significant both in property saved from theft and vandalism and in smaller insurance premiums. As evidence mounts that CCTV helps reduce crime and save money, schools are becoming less camera shy.