Students at Orangeville's Westside Secondary School returning from spring break on Monday may have been surprised to find the school had installed security cameras during the March break.

Westside is the last high school in Dufferin County to receive surveillance cameras as required by the province's Safe Schools Act.

Bob Borden, chairman of the Upper Grand District School Board, said the province mandated that all high schools install security cameras to help make schools safer.

Under the same Act, some elementary schools in the province will also have video surveillance, but Maggie McFazden, spokesperson at the board, said no elementary schools in the area will have cameras installed.

Orangeville District Secondary School (ODSS) and Centre Dufferin High School (CDDHS) in Shelburne have had the cameras installed since 2004.

ODSS vice-principal Tim Murray says the cameras have had a positive effect and the school has had fewer incidents of theft, fights, inappropriate behaviour and trespass.

"It has also stopped incidents of the fire alarm being pulled for no reason."

At CDDHS, a spokesman for the school said the cameras there have helped "with the tone of the school by encouraging good behaviour."

Westside Principal Darryl Kirkland welcomed the ability to monitor hallways and public areas from 35 cameras located both inside and outside the school. Cameras were not installed in washrooms, change rooms or classrooms.

"This school is pretty safe already, but it could curb any vandalism that may happen."

Mr. Kirkland feels the students at Westside, as a whole, are very caring and says he hasn't experienced a major problem with damage or destruction. He predicts the cameras will be easily accepted by the student body.

"They are curious right now," he said. "But it's just because it's something new."

Signs warning that the property is under surveillance will be posted at the school's entrances as soon as they are ready.