Athens City Schools’ classrooms could soon be under the watchful eye of a camera system as district officials consider safety improvements.

Athens Intermediate School Principal Mitzi Dennis presented a recommendation of the SAFE System for the board at its Tuesday meeting. The camera system is not just a monitoring tool, but also a safety and educational tool.

SAFE System, built by New Jersey-based firm Promedia, is a specialized security system that features cameras capable of live streaming and recording controlled by a remote device a teacher wears around the neck.

Incorporated in the system is a public announcement speaker that can broadcast the teacher’s voice across the room as well as play messages transmitted by other network users.

The cameras and loudspeakers are also connected to a silent alarm, which can be activated by any teacher or official in the district and be broadcast across the system.

Student and faculty safety is the top priority of Athens City Schools, Dennis said, but with SAFE System, there’s an added benefit for classroom teachers. The remote device acts as a microphone, projecting a teacher’s voice throughout the classroom, reducing the need for students to ask a teacher to repeat information and reducing strain on a teacher’s voice.

Aside from the audio features, the cameras add an additional dimension of learning, Dennis said. The SAFE System’s cameras give teachers the option to record lessons. This can be utilized to prevent material to students unable to attend class in person for a variety of reasons.

Recording technology can also be used to give one-on-one attention to students who need additional instruction through the school district’s one-on-one device program.

The school district benefits from the cameras by reducing the numbers of false accusations against teachers through video monitoring, Dennis said. Teachers additionally have the option to use video recordings of themselves to work on their teaching style and address their instruction methods.

Dennis told The News Courier she received positive feedback on the proposal, but the district must consider how it could fund the implementation of such a system. She is hopeful, however, the district can move forward with the suggestion.