EMMAUS, Pa. — To meet security and safety concerns, a security officer may be on the way to each of East Penn School District's middle Schools.
In a presentation to the school board Monday, Eyer Middle School Principal Tom Ruhf, Lower Macungie Middle School Principal Sallie Yencho, Student Services Director Thomas Mirabella and Assistant Superintendent Douglas Povilaitis walked through potential benefits the officers could give the district.
The security officers would be unarmed and have a variety of responsibilities, including patrolling the school, responding to incidents and contributing to the development of a safe and caring environment with the students.
Administration officials say the positions would assist in maintaining a safe and orderly environment through having a visible presence and connecting with students and staff.
"I think it is about having those additional personnel who are going to help explain to some of those behaviors in a preventative, proactive approach, not reactive, coming at it from the discipline end."East Penn Schools Superintendent Kristen Campbell
The board last Aprilapproved $200,000 for safety and security enhancements at the district's middle schools, envisioned as personnel.
Superintendent Kristen Campbell said the administration expects to bring the proposal forward for a board vote as soon as the next meeting on Feb. 26.
Experience, training sought
"Post COVID, we've seen when our when our students returned to in-person instruction consistently, we, like many other districts, saw changes in our students," Campbell said.
"I think it is about having those additional personnel who are going to help explain to some of those behaviors in a preventative, proactive approach, not reactive, coming at it from the discipline end."
She said ideally the two positions will likely be full-time employment, keeping a presence as students enter and leave the schools.
Administrators say they prefer candidates with training and experience in security or law enforcement, and they likely would start in the spring, following recruitment.
Upon being hired, the security officers would undergo school resource officer training certification and other training, such as in de-escalation and First Aid.
Board members spoke positively about the program, but emphasized the need to find the right person for the job if approved.
Full SROs still considered
Campbell said funding initially envisioned full School Resource Officers, but discussions with local law enforcement showed there wasn't adequate police staffing to provide the two schools with SROs.
The alternatively proposed security officers would not have the full powers of an active-duty school resource officer, such as arrest. The security officers would be district employees, not police officers, and would be unarmed.
Administration said ideally, they would be retired officers or people who have experience both in law enforcement and have involvement in the community so students feel both safe and respected.
Campbell said eventually, if the resources become available, the district could consider a team of security officers and SROs at all grade levels.
"We know that we are atypical in that area in which we've seen most of our colleagues in Lehigh and Northampton counties do have multiple layers of safety and security support."East Penn Schools Superintendent Kristen Campbell
"I think the long-term vision would that we would potentially have a team of safety and security personnel in the district, whereas right now we have one SRO who services Emmaus High School," Campbell said.
"And we know that we are atypical in that area in which we've seen most of our colleagues in Lehigh and Northampton counties do have multiple layers of safety and security support."
District officials emphasized the need to find the right person for the position if it gets approved, such as someone who can handle the drama of middle schoolers while connecting with the students on a personal level.
