Trinity approves hiring school police officers
Trinity Area School Board Thursday voted to hire four armed school police officers, and will assign one officer to each of the district’s four elementary schools.
School directors also discussed the possibility of hiring a fifth officer during their planning meeting.
A growing number of school districts are tightening security following the Feb. 14 school shooting in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 students and faculty dead.
Currently, Trinity Area School District employs two school police officers, Rich Horner, a retired North Franklin Township police chief, and Sean Scott, a 25-year veteran of the state police, to handle security, safety and discipline issues at the district’s five campuses.
Horner and Scott discussed campus safety for more than an hour, explaining a range of safety measures the district has implemented – including ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate) drills and enhanced building security – to safeguard the schools.
While school districts cannot guarantee safety, Horner said he believes Trinity is “above the curve when it comes to school safety.”
Dr. Michael Lucas, superintendent, said principals hold one ALICE drill and one fire drill each month.
“Our main concern is the safety of our students,” said Lucas.
The school district will hold an ALICE training and security meeting for parents at 6 p.m. March 14 in the high school auditorium to discuss school security.
ALICE is a training program that teaches students and staff members how to respond most effectively during an active-shooter event.
“We want people to come, and we hope they ask questions,” said Horner.
The cost of each school police officer is estimated at about $40,000. Horner’s salary is paid for through a Safe Schools Initiative grant.