AUSTIN, Texas — Summer's almost over for Texas students and teachers. Books are back on shelves, white boards are bare, and everyone's desks are in the perfect place.
What you don't see in this classroom is a camera…at least not yet.
A new state law requires schools to record everything that happens in special education classrooms, but only if a parent, school board member or staff requests it.
For many school districts that could be a challenge.
“In Leander ISD, that comes out to about 100 classrooms,” said Assistant Superintendent Veronica Sopher.
Sopher says her district appreciates the intent of added security.
Lawmakers went forward as a way to keep an eye on the state’s most vulnerable students after a few high-profile cases involving allegations of abuse of students with special needs.
But districts know cameras and recording equipment aren’t cheap.
“The cost at this point in terms of estimation is anywhere from $800,000 to a $1 million,” continued Sopher.
That’s money the school — and not the state — has to spend in order to comply.
“There’s no question this is an unfunded mandate,” said Monty Exter of the Association of Texas Professional Educators.
Exter is a lobbyist for the Association of Texas Professional Educators and he says schools are already strapped for cash — this is just another hit.
ATPE views the law as heavy on security and light on privacy.
Cameras aren’t new for schools. Leander Middle School has its fair share of security cameras in hallways.
Come Monday, they’ll be looking at more than lines of lockers, as nearly 1,000 sixth through eighth graders pack in for the start of school.
And some of those students may soon be aware that the cameras are also now in classrooms.