The results of an investigation by an outside consultant has concluded that a hidden camera discovered in Saul Martinez Elementary School in Mecca was supposed to be placed in another classroom at an entirely different school.
The camera was approved by a CVUSD principal in order to try to capture suspects who had previously broken into a classroom, according to a statement from the Coachella Valley Unified School District statement released Monday. The camera was in the right room number…but just at the wrong school.
Oops.
“The investigation revealed that the camera was mistakenly placed in a classroom at Saul Martinez instead of the classroom approved by the site principal and classroom teacher at another elementary school,” a note to parents and staff from Superintendent Edwin Gomez stated (via Desert Sun). “This error was not discovered until the camera was found and reported by Saul Martinez students.”
The district also noted that it does not support cameras in classrooms unless the “express awareness and permission of the classroom teacher” is given and the district claims no footage of students or staff was captured by the camera.
Perhaps next time, they will double-check they are in the right building before installing one.
