School safety protocols to be presented to Upper Darby community

UPPER DARBY » The Upper Darby community will get a thorough look on Tuesday night at district safety measures for the 14 school buildings that house approximately 12,000 students.

District Director of Public Safety Lou Gentile and Assistant Superintendent Dan McGarry will present at the school board’s education and pupil services committee meeting eight areas of focus ranging from mental health needs, the DelPASS system to lockdown procedures.

The public will be able to make public comment right after the presentation to provide ideas and feedback to the board about providing the best safety in the schools.

A number of local school districts have been providing safety updates in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida that left 17 students and school personnel dead and over a dozen more injured. At present, there are 39 school safety officers in the schools and over 100 security cameras split among the high school and two middle schools. Metal detectors are not currently in use in any of the schools.

Cameras for the elementary schools and kindergarten center will be a separate agenda item apart from the school safety presentation. The board held off at its Feb. 14 meeting on approval of a $219,000 bid to install three cameras in each of the lower-level education buildings, and two at the administrative building. The board wanted more information on the project and may try again to vote on the bid at the March 14 meeting.