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The omnibus budget bill that passed Congress last week allocated $350,000 to improve the safety and security systems at Berkeley High School.  

Meanwhile, in Berkeley, administrators plod through the steps of bringing the project to fruition. 

The entire security system became the focal point of attention after several arson fires at Berkeley High School during the 1999-2000 school year. 

“Our City Council had been very concerned about how to keep students and staff alerted to emergency situations,” said Arrietta Chakos, the city manager’s chief of staff.  

Press releases from both Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., and Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, announcing the appropriation, mentioned the incidents of arson to indicate need for an improved safety and alarm system. 

The federal money will be used to improve the current intercom so that in case of an emergency the principal will be able to reach each classroom, said Karen Sarlo, public information officer for Berkeley Unified School District.  

“What we have right now is a working intercom system that goes from room to room and room to office,” said Leu Jones, manager of facilities planning for the school district. “What we don’t have are speakers that allow general announcements.”  

He said they also hoped to put speakers in the hallways. 

Chakos said the school district did estimates ahead of time for the cost of the system, so that the funding would be sufficient for the project.  

“What we’re likely to do is expand the existing intercom system we have, in which case (the federal money) may be enough to cover it,” Jones said. 

If they discover that they need to redo many parts of the system, the federal money may be supplemented by bond money, he said. 

The Office of the City Manager will administer the federal funds. “The whole effort was initiated by our City Council and our mayor, who wrote to congresswoman Lee and Senators Feinstein and Boxer,” said Chakos. “Their staff searched around for the appropriate funding vehicle.” She said that the process began in April, and those involved continued to send letters over the subsequent months. 

“Generally at the end of the legislative session they will roll bills together and pass them as one omnibus bill,” said Andrew Sousa, Lee’s press secretary. “It’s easier to pass one large bill.” 

Turning the federal grant into communication wires will not happen overnight.  

Jones said that figuring out the pieces needed will take between three and four months, and the bidding process for contractors will take another three months. 

Another portion of the security system, a camera surveillance project, has already been in the works for months. Sept. 6 the school board voted to install video cameras, which will tape footage to be reviewed in case of any incidents.  

In order for the project to begin, the school district must invite contractors to submit bids to provide materials and labor. The school district must then accept the lowest bidder meeting certain criteria. If a bidder for the cameras is found this go round and the school board approves the contract in January, “The contract can start the next day,” schools spokesperson Sarlo said. In earlier bidding periods, she said, no responsible bidder was found, slowing up the process.  

Today the bids for the surveillance project were opened: the two components of the contract, materials and labor, each received two bids. The bids ranged from $150,00 to $250,000, and Jones estimated that the entire project may cost approximately $400,000. 

Bond AA, which passed on Nov. 7, set aside $1.1 million for high school safety and communications systems. Money that doesn’t go to the surveillance cameras or intercom project – up to $700,000 – can be used for other purposes. 

“The security cameras are not covering everything on the campus. We might try to expand that,” said Jones, adding that they also might try new forms of communication, perhaps via television sets. “There’s a number of ways to approach it,” he said.