The system design and installation was provided by American Digital Security (ADS), Liberty, Mo. After ADS priced the equipment and work specified by the school, it also suggested a different system than the one requested by submitting an alternate bid. The result: the schools are now receiving better security than they originally requested.

"The Union school district decided to install the ACTi megapixel cameras when they realized that cost of megapixel was not that much more than standard analog. When the ACTi cameras were able to give them 10 times the image quality of your standard CCTV cameras, it was an easy choice." Buddy Mason, president American Digital Security.

"It's an unbelievable system we're putting in the Union School District for an unbelievable price," maintains Ken Richards, regional sales director for American Digital Security's St. Louis region. "It's all Internet protocol cameras, all megapixel cameras - all the newest technology."

All the schools except one elementary school are linked by fiber-optic cable. Cameras can be viewed remotely over the Internet by authorized personnel or police from outside the building. Because of the high-definition, megapixel cameras used, both the front entrance and the office can be included in the same single-camera view.

The high school has its own server center security room with three 19-inch LCD monitors, and the middle school has two monitors in its security room. These are separate systems. ExacqVision's software is being used as the management software.

The high school has approximately 50 cameras inside and 20 outside. "The cameras cover pretty much the entire facility - the hallways, every entrance,the gym and the cafeteria," Richards lists. "Every single camera is basically a PTZ," Richards maintains. "It has to do with their image quality. You can pan, tilt and zoom in each image live or recorded."

The middle school has 42 cameras that cover every entrance, most of the hallways and corridors, stairwells, the cafeteria and the outside perimeter of the building, reports Jeff Vanzee, director of facilities and operations for the Union School District.

One of the elementary schools has a server and three cameras on site, and the other two elementary schools have one camera each showing the front entrance and office. This keeps a record of those entering and exiting the school, because it is the only entrance that is unlocked from the outside.

"During the last year we have noted an increased requirement for network video systems from the educational sector worldwide. I am very pleased tosee that the cooperation with ADS has resulted in greatly increased security and protection for the students and staffs of the Union County Public Schools," says Chenyu Liu, sales director of ACTi Corporation.