LOCKPORT, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Lockport Board of education approved changes Wednesday night that would allow them to use their $1.4 million software that would be able to identify threats at their schools. The software does this by keeping a data base of sex offenders and people deemed a threat to the school by law enforcement. The system recognizes them on cameras throughout the district.
Earlier this summer the New York State Education Department directed Lockport to stop testing its program.
NYSED and the New York Civil Liberties Union were worried about the district using the system to identify suspended students.
Wednesday night, the Lockport School Board voted to adhere to those recommendations and continue with program.
“We believe in working cooperatively and interacting with the state education department and took those concerns and questions seriously. And, as a result, have made changes that have been approved by the board of education this evening,” said Superintendent Michelle Bradley.
The board also voted to encrypt any information that is stored on this facial recognition program. They hope to have the program running this school year.
