By Paul Waldmiller
Did you know that there is a new bill in the Florida Legislature that would allow school districts to put cameras and microphones inside classrooms?
The proposed bill, HB 1055 is being sponsored by Rep. Bob Rommel of Naples, and Rep. Mike Beltran of Lithia. Both Florida legislators are Republicans.
“I think we can do it in a safe way to protect the privacy of students and teachers, I think we should do it. I haven’t heard a response good or bad from any teachers but you know what’s its not in their private space, it’s our children’s space too,” Rep. Rommel commenting on the bill being proposed.
If there is a camera placed in the classroom then the teacher will also be required to wear a microphone during class time. All recordings would be overseen by the principal and used for teacher evaluations but would not be used for any livestreaming.
The bill being proposed would also not mandate cameras in the classroom but it would allow individual school boards to implement the policies on their own.