ALPENA — A change in security cameras at Alpena Public Schools is nearly complete, according to Paul Mancine, director of information systems for Alpena Public Schools.

Mancine’s report was one of the updates on safety measures members of the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education Curriculum and Technology Committee heard during Tuesday’s meeting.

At the November school board meeting, the board unanimously approved the purchase of 132 interior cameras and storage units for AHS totaling over $54,000. The antiquated, and in some cases failing, camera system was presenting a security hazard for the students and staff alike.

“I am happy to say today that we are in the A range as far as completion, or about 95 percent,” he said. “The only reason I say 95 percent is because of the 132 cameras that we mounted, we have three that are being little dickens.”

Most of the administrative staff at the school also have requested the smartphone app that allows them access to the cameras anywhere they are, Mancine said. He said besides the three cameras not yet working, the main task now is to get the cameras into the optimal positions for the administrators.

The second phase of the camera installation will be for the exterior cameras. This was targeted for completion during spring break, however through conversations with Principal Matt Poli and Maintenance Director Ken McInerney, it has been postponed to the summer because some cameras may require custom mounts that may cause additional issues.

The issues included how to best run the wiring, how to mount the cameras and if there is any asbestos present.

“Instead of trying to push it for spring break they both indicated they were comfortable with happening over summer,” he said.

The committee also was notified of the district’s proactive implementation of a state regulation regarding emergency dispatch information. The regulation — which does not go into effect until 2019 — requires all phone extensions in a school district to have a room number or room description associated with it.

“Technically we have two more years to abide by this regulation,” Mancine said. “As you’ve heard in previous meetings here we’ve taken the stance that we need to do this even if the law does not make us do it.”

Now when an emergency phone call is placed through any of the nearly 700 APS phone lines, the Alpena Central Dispatch will be provided the room number instead of just the building’s address as previously was the case.

Coupled with this project was the beginning of updating the school district’s map. Computer technician Kevin Mulka said the district’s map does not have major problems, but small issues such as newly installed walls are not present on some of the building maps.

Mulka will be working with McInerney to create the new set of maps for the district. Also during this process the group will work to ensure room numbers are accurate for both the maps and information provided to ACD, as some rooms were found not to match previous maps.

Mulka hoped to have the updated maps completed by the end of summer break.

Tyler Winowiecki can be reached via email at twinowiecki@thealpenanews.com or by phone at 358-5688. Follow Tyler on Twitter tw_alpenanews.