The Parents Advisory Council (PAC) at Thunder Bay Junior High School is holding a fundraiser to help pay for a new surveillance video system.

The parents group was instrumental is convincing Alpena Public Schools of the necessity to install security cameras at the junior high. 

The project will cost approximately $37,500.   APS will pay about $28,000 toward the total costs and the PAC will pick up the remaining $9,500.  The funding and project were approved by the board of education Monday night.

The Parents Advisory Council is selling “sponsorships” to raise its portion of the project costs.  For example, a sponsor can “purchase” some of the cable for the system at a dollar-a-foot; or a quarter, half or full camera on the system for between $50 and $200.  Other parts of the system are also available to sponsors. 

The PAC is planning to build some sort of sculpture that will include the names of those who help pay for the system.  Sponsorship forms can be picked up at the school’s main office and might eventually be available on the district’s website. 

The cameras should be installed by the start of next school year.  Administrators believe they will be a strong deterrent to bad behavior, bullying, vandalism and more.