October 26, 2009

Surveillance cameras will remain in Fairfax County high school cafeterias for at least another year.

The school board voted last week to keep the cameras. They were installed last fall at six high schools in response to reports that hungry students had stolen $1.2 million worth of food the previous school year.

School officials say the cameras helped divert some losses, but food theft is still a costly problem. Fairfax schools face a projected budget shortfall of $176 million for the next school year.

Penny McConnell, director of food and nutrition services, says the program could be expanded after another year of surveillance at the six trial schools.

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