17-06-2025
Students unknowingly changed in camera-equipped gym
Three new cameras were placed in the gym, mounted on the west wall above the exit doors, and providing full visibility of each basketball court. Unlike the gym's existing 'Huddle Live' cameras, which can be activated by coaches to broadcast volleyball or basketball games, the new cameras are constantly recording for security purposes.
Neither athletic nor performing arts coaches were notified that the cameras had been installed.
'I thought the cameras in the gym had always been there. I did not know they were installing new cameras in the gym,' badminton head coach Long Hoang said.
'I don't have any email interaction with the school about the update,' girls' basketball head coach Camryn Hamaguchi said. 'I was under the impression that the gym always had security cameras, even before I started coaching at the school.'
Assistant Principal of Supervision Elliot Skolnick confirmed to Baron Banner that no formal notification of camera installation was sent out to athletic coaches until the end of March.
According to FVHS dance team coach and advisor Kelela Batinga, the FVHS dance team has used the gym's back courts as a makeshift changing area during their winter and spring showcases for the past 18 years. A curtain, used as a performance backdrop, served to divide the changing area from the main stage located in the middle courts.
The existence of the cameras was first discussed at a meeting between Batinga, Assistant Principal of Activities and Athletics Hayato Yuuki, and dance team booster parents.
While dance team members were informed about the new cameras at the meeting on March 25, they had already performed and changed backstage at the winter showcase on Dec. 15, 2024, unaware of the surveillance.
'We didn't know anything until our meeting. We did not know this for our winter show, and that's why we did change back there,' Batinga said.
Senior dancer Olivia Armedilla noted that using the back courts during showcases as a changing area is crucial for maintaining the event's flow.
'Changing in the back part of the gym instead of running back and forth to the locker rooms is way easier because some of the dancers have a lot of routines to perform,' Armedilla said. 'They also have to change their costumes or dance shoes, and it would be too hard for us as dancers to run back and forth [between the gym and the locker rooms]. Otherwise, we waste our energy before performing.'
Members of Pep Squad, another performance group that also utilizes the back court of the gym as a changing area, stated that they were not informed of the cameras before their annual spring showcase on March 22.
Fountain Valley High School's Pep Squad also utilizes a similar stage setup at their Spring Showcase. (Emma Nguyen)
'Many people on our squad have changed, and we weren't aware there is a [recording] with us partially dressed,' senior cheer captain Emily Rostomian said. 'We also have had practice there many times only in sports bras and shorts, so the addition of that information is unsettling to me.'
Changing behind the backdrop during showcases has been a long-time practice for the FVHS dance team.
'We were horrified. Honestly, we've changed [on the backside of the gym] for every year I've been here, including when I was on the team,' Batinga said. 'If there was ever a change in cameras or policies, I have no problem working with that. But we should have been told and it's pretty outrageous that we were not notified, because this is young girls changing. My goal is to always keep the dancers safe, and that is just not okay.'
All athletic and performance coaches were officially notified of the existence of the cameras in an email sent out by Yuuki on March 26.
'Barons, as a reminder, please make sure that no one is changing their clothes in the gym, even if the curtains are down,' Yuuki wrote. 'Please utilize the boys' and girls' locker rooms for all changing purposes. As a side note, if you're using the locker rooms, please make sure the rooms are being supervised and that they are locked at their use.'
At the Dance Team's spring performance on May 4, Batinga made changes to the dancers' changing process backstage in order to improve the performers' privacy.
'For our spring show, we brought easy-up tents with lots of big bed sheets, so we put that in front of where the cameras were and the dancers were able to change in a hidden area,' Batinga said.
According to Lopez, the HBUHSD Director of Maintenance, Operations and Transportation (MOT), Mark Hansberger, the director of IT, Derek Kinsey and the school administration team have access to the footage, which is not regularly monitored or pulled unless needed for disciplinary action.
Yuuki told Baron Banner that he confirmed with Hansberger that the camera footage is only retained for 30 days. Afterwards, Verkada, the security camera company, permanently deletes the footage, which can no longer be accessed by any district personnel.
At the time of publication, neither Hansberger nor Verkada has returned Baron Banner's request for independent verification that the footage is deleted after 30 days.
Moving forward, FVHS administration plans to implement a privacy policy before the start of the 2025–2026 school year.
'There will be no changing in the gym,' Yuuki said. 'We want to make sure [that changing policies] are included in our student handbook for the upcoming year and make sure that all of our coaches, performing arts, dance, pep squad are aware that you shouldn't be changing in there at all.'
The policy will require all changing to occur in locker rooms, which will be monitored by an adult at all times. Athletic or performance coaches are to request a key for access to these locker rooms if needed outside of school hours.
HBUHSD is currently ordering 'video in progress' signage to ensure students and staff are aware of surveillance. These signs will be installed for the upcoming school year.
'[Changing in the locker rooms] will make our shows go a little bit slower, but we will work with it, because the safety of the kids is most important,' Batinga said. Related
