Lawmakers consider adding cameras to public school classrooms

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Cameras could be added to public school classrooms in Tennessee. Lawmakers are considering it, and one school district already told WMSV4 Investigator Courtney Allen that they’d put them in all classrooms if funding gets approved.

One lawmaker said he is open to the idea after we shared with him stories of Nashville families with special needs students.

“My experience with public schools has been a nightmare,” Shannikka Sherrill said.

Sherrill said her son came home with a concussion. She said she later learned that he was kicked in the head at his elementary school.

“Yes I was angry,” Sherrill said. “Yes, I wanted answers.”

She could not get answers from her son. He has autism and is non-verbal. She is now calling for all public school classrooms in the state to have cameras, particularly in special education classrooms. She is one of more than 200 people who’ve signed this petition.

“There are cameras in the hallways of the schools,” Sherrill said. “Why don’t we have them in the one place in the school where the kids don’t have a voice?”

We took that question to lawmakers. Republican State Senator Mark Pody told us that he would consider filing legislation during this session to potentially create a safety grant districts could apply for to get cameras in classrooms. Pody stopped short of mandating it.

“That way, each school district should make a decision,” Sen. Pody said. “Is it best for them? Is it what they need? If so, we want to make the funding available to them.”

Pody also said he would be open to a pilot program.

“If there was a school system in each of the divisions [West, Middle, and East Tennessee] to say, ‘let us pilot. Let us try it,’ and we can see the outcomes whether kids are treated better,” Sen. Pody said. “We can use that data to say, ’ Here is proof. This is what is happening.' We could say ‘Here is what is working, here are best practices’ and expand that throughout the state.”

Democrats also tell us they are looking into the idea of cameras in classrooms. Several other states have passed similar legislation including Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida.

“It holds them accountable,” Sherrill said. “Not only the teachers, not only the administrators but the kids as well.”

We reached out to multiple Midstate districts on whether they would put cameras in classes if funding was made available. The responses we received are below.

Wilson County Schools: “We’d always welcome more funding from the State. So to answer your question, yes. Cams for all classrooms would be great.”

Rutherford County Schools: “It’s hard to speculate on what we would do, but I can tell you there has been no discussion of doing so.”

Clarksville-Montgomery County Schools: “I typically do not comment on speculation, including discussions about proposed legislation or funding. School video surveillance in and on Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS) facilities and property occurs and exists for the safety and security of the facility/property, not to create educational records of CMCSS students. CMCSS utilizes a network of thousands of surveillance cameras, strategically positioned in all school system facilities. The locations of cameras are kept confidential to not compromise safety and security. All camera locations are in full compliance with applicable state and federal laws.”

Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS): “Installing surveillance cameras inside of classrooms is not currently under consideration.”

Sherill’s son goes to MNPS. She filed a lawsuit claiming negligence by the district. MNPS said it does not comment on cases involving pending litigation.