Detroit schools to get security cameras

DETROIT, Mich. (AP) - The Detroit Public Schools is spending about $41.7 million over the next year to upgrade safety and security hardware.

The initiative includes $17.3 million for placing 100 surveillance cameras in each high school. Each K-8 school will get 32 cameras and elementary schools will receive 24 cameras each.

District police officers will monitor the cameras remotely using new desktop computers.

Robert Bobb, the district's emergency financial manager, says the district also will issue new identification badges for high school students and employees. The badges are designed to better monitor attendance and help keep unwanted persons out of schools.

Most of the initiative will be paid for out of the $500.5 million bond issue Detroit voters approved in 2009.