Florida schools would have the power to install video cameras and microphones in classrooms to better investigate allegations of student abuse or neglect under a bill authored by Florida Rep. Bob Rommel (R-Naples).
The bill, HB 1055, would facilitate such recordings to aid investigations into student abuse or neglect by school district employees or other students, and it would require teachers to wear microphones in classrooms where recording equipment was installed.
Teachers union officials, however, have expressed concerns about the bill.
“We have questions about this bill regarding parental rights and other issues,” Florida Education Association President Andrew Spar said in an email to the Florida Record. “Could law enforcement or the district use the video to investigate a situation dealing with a student without parental knowledge? Can the video be used by law enforcement if a student harms another student or a school employee?”
The bill identifies only certain individuals who can request permission to view such videos, which would not be allowed to be live-streamed. These people included school employees involved in incidents of abuse or neglect or investigations of such incidents; parents of students; and law enforcement or Department of Children and Families personnel who are investigating such incidents.
HB 1055, which would take effect July 1 if enacted, aims to protect school districts or employees from lawsuits when they comply with the provisions of the videotaping provisions.
Spar also asked other questions about how such video recordings could be used if the bill becomes law.
“Can a teacher use the recording to show that they did not get assistance in a timely manner after calling the office?” he asked. “Can it be used as evidence to show how effective a teacher is in the classroom?”
Videos could not be used for classroom teacher evaluations by the school administrators, according to the text of HB 1055. Such recordings would be retained under the custodianship of principals for three months or more before being erased.