Belle Vernon School District to hire resource officer
Belle Vernon Area School District will be getting a school resource officer to bolster security.
School directors at a special meeting Wednesday approved a joint resolution with Rostraver Township to apply for a state Department of Education Safe School Grant to hire a school resource officer. School board President Lou Rood said that the grant will help to pay the salary of the officer, which will be split between the district and township. The township and school district plan to hire an officer even if they are not awarded the grant.
The officer, who would be hired from the Rostraver Township Police Department, will cost about $85,000 to $90,000 annually in salary and benefits. The first year of the grant would bring in $60,000 and $30,000 in the second year.
The resource officer would be used at the high school. Since the district is within both Westmoreland and Fayette counties, the Rostraver officer cannot be used in the Fayette portion. Acting Superintendent Michelle Dowell said she is in conversation with officials from Washington Township, Fayette County, where the middle school and Marion Elementary School are located, about an agreement for an additional resource officer for that end of the district.
Rood said because the district is split between two counties, there are challenges. “We have Fayette and Westmoreland county 911, children and youth services and probation in two counties. We need one officer in each county.”
Rood said the school district will have in place at least one school resource officer this school year and hopes to add an additional one.
“Our ultimate goal is to eventually have our own district police department,” he said. The salary of the officer will be paid out of the general fund if the grant is not obtained because the safety and security of the students is important, he said.