St. Joseph Public Schools will be getting some security upgrades.

The board of education on Monday approved of a bid of $425,000  from Presidio to upgrade the video system at the school buildings. The previous cameras were outdated, with some having been removed.

St. Joseph Superintendent Kristen Bawks says this project has been in the works for some time.

“That’s just going to provide a clearer picture for us,” Bawks said. “We certainly have camera systems now, but that technology has advanced. We’re just looking forward to upgrading those and having a clearer view.”

The cameras now in use were purchased with revenue from a 2016 bond. The district had plans to replace them last year, but voters rejected a more than $98 million bond request in May of 2022.

The new cameras will be added to the exterior of the buildings, and the purchase will include new servers.

The school board did note it will use state grants from the previous two years to help offset the total cost.