Aug 23, 2018 3 min read

Charleroi Area School District will have enhanced security measures this school year, adding one full-time school resource officer and one part-time school resource officer to the full-time school security officer already on staff.

School directors approved a three-year contract for Charleroi Regional Police Officers Michael Wylie and Ryan Brand. The three-year contract for the full-time officer, Brand, will be $45,535.887 for the first year, $47,812.67 for the second year and $50,203.30 for the third year. The hourly rate for the part-time officer, Wylie, will be $16.50 for the first year, $17.00 for the second year and $17.50 for the third year. The new officers will be placed at the elementary school and middle school buildings. All three officers will be armed, and the two resource officers will have arrest powers.

Superintendent Ed Zelich said there will be an officer in each district building. He added, in light of recent events, security and safety are at the forefront of important decisions for the students and staff. Zelich said the board is committed to students’ safety.

In addition to the new police officers, the board will be adding another safety net with the Raptor visitor management system. School directors will be voting on the system’s operating procedures next week. The Raptor system requires visitors to show a photo identification when they visit the school. The identification is then put into the system and will be checked to see if it is in a sex offender database. If the person is in the database, there are procedures to follow. Zelich said this system is another layer of safety for the students and staff.

A boxing event may be coming to the Charleroi gymnasium in November. Brian Bursick, owner of Cave Boxing Club in Charleroi, is sponsoring a tournament for boxers ages 12 to 38 from all across the nation and would like to use the school’s gymnasium for the event.

Bruce Smith, trainer at the boxing club, said he and others at the gym are trying to help the community. He added this tournament will help the youth in the community to learn respect and keep them out of trouble.

“At one time, this town was known as the Magic City. We were known for our boxers. Let’s do that again,” said Smith.

Zelich said the gym floor had just recently been redone, and he was concerned with the installation of the ring and chairs. Lou Rawls, representative from the club, said the organization is committed to providing this event and is willing to work with the school. He added the ring would be installed on a mat to protect the floor and ringside chairs can be the bleachers.

Zelich said more discussion is needed on the topic, and a decision will be made at next Tuesday’s regular board meeting at 7 p.m.