An Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 security policy will include the placement of cameras on school buses.

The district board unanimously gave first reading approval to the updated measure Tuesday night during the regular meeting held at Bethune-Bowman High School.

OCSD 5 Public Relations Director Greg Carson says the district had to get feedback on the policy from its attorney and the South Carolina School Boards Association.

The policy also covers the placement of security video cameras in school hallways and classrooms.

The board also gave unanimous second reading approval to a district policy regarding acceptable Internet usage. The policy stipulates technology is supposed to be used only for educational purposes and district business.

OCSD 5 is blocking Web sites according to the nature of their content, including social networking Web sites such as Facebook. In addition, teachers will monitor students when they use computers in class.

OCSD 5 district grants writer and director of the James Clyburn Community Empowerment Center Anna Jacobs updated the board on the 21st Century Community Learning Center After School Program.

Jacobs noted the district has served 400 students at nine school sites since 2002. The program was authorized by the Federal No Child Left Behind Act.

In other business:

* Assistant Superintendent Donnie Boland gave the monthly budget status report.

* In his report to the board, Superintendent Melvin Smoak offered congratulations to members of the Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School Speech and Debate and Drama Club for their showing at the speech and debate competition at Bishop England High School.

* Smoak congratulated O-W receiver Kentrell Disher for breaking the South Carolina High School League’s record for most pass receptions in one season.

* Recognition was given seventh-ninth grade award winners from the 2009 South Carolina State Fair Juried competition.

A letter from the College of Charleston’s vice president of academic affairs commended O-W for its academic preparation of former student David Thieker, who obtained funding for a summer biochemistry research project as a college freshman.

* The board held a 20-minute executive session regarding staff hiring recommendations by Smoak. In open session, the board voted to accept the superintendent’s recommendations.

T&D Staff Writer Phil Sarata can be reached by e-mail at psarata@timesanddemocrat.com or by telephone at 803-533-5540. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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