Rarely does anybody think about the “eyes in the sky” anymore. It’s been 8 years since the “eyes” first opened, but while most people on campus have forgotten about the all-seeing eyes, “they” are constantly watching as virtually everything that happens outside of the classroom is seen and recorded by the security cameras.

“The cameras record constantly and they can hold about 60 days at a time,” school resource officer Mark Mitchell said. “There are about 45-50 cameras.”

With just one school resource officer assigned to the high school, the cameras act as dozens of extra eyes.

“[The cameras] are used to help provide security because we can’t be everywhere all the time,” Mitchell said. “I can sit in my office and pull the cameras up on my computer and watch many places at once.”

But the security cameras go beyond the parameters of campus safety. Many teachers are supportive of the cameras because when a student leaves to go to the restroom and doesn’t return in a reasonable amount of time, the staff may need to find out where exactly the student was and if they need to be punished.

Math teacher Andrew Stallings has needed to view security cameras for hard evidence that a student in question wasn’t where they were supposed to be.

“My experience with them has been that they have been helpful in finding out who is where at what time when [their location] is in question,” Stallings said.

Though security cameras can be helpful to the staff, some students aren’t okay with the fact that they are being watched closely at virtually all times.

“I think they’re a great idea,” senior Allie Dillard said. “But it makes me feel uncomfortable knowing I’m being watched the whole time I am at school.”

Still, the cameras are extremely helpful in watching over the halls of the school. With the cameras, there is constant surveillance to ensure the students’ safety.

“I don’t know if I would feel as safe if the cameras were not installed all throughout the campus,” Stallings said. “It is really reassuring knowing that if anything bad happens, there is always an ‘eye’ witness.”