As part of a new safety initiative, Chicago Public Schools (CPS) will expand the use of security cameras at hundreds of district schools, reports say.

As outlined by ABC, the schools will add and upgrade security cameras at 331 elementary and high schools throughout the city, spending $76 million on the project.

“I know that our children cannot be successful learning in their classrooms unless they feel safe,” said Pedro Martinez, CPS CEO.

“Having a wide range of safety resources such as state of the art security cameras here at our school gives me confidence that we will be able to provide all students with a safe, supportive learning environment,” commented Evelia Diaz, Principal at Eli Whitney Elementary School, where new security cameras were installed last year.

The Chicago district is implementing a scoring model based on enrollment, camera condition, number of safety incidents taking place at the school and number of criminal incidents around the school, to decide on which institutions will receive new cameras first.

“The quality of the cameras is going to be really helpful in terms of providing information, if we are looking for a particular individual,” said Jadine Chou, CPS Chief of Safety and Security.