EAST ALLEGHENY TO HIRE SCHOOL COP

Grant funding helps pave way

The East Allegheny school board is moving forward with plans to hire a district police officer to protect students and staff.

The district has not had a school resource officer for five years. Ten years ago, the district had three school resource officers from the North Versailles Police Department, superintendent Don MacFann said.

But as funding for those officers dwindled, that number gradually decreased. The district will pay for the new officer’s salary with a School Safety and Security grant through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.

The first part of the grant, which will be $25,000, has not yet been sent to the district, and school officials are hoping the second part of the grant will be much larger. The school board voted earlier in November to allow the new officer to carry a gun.

Mr. MacFann said North Versailles police have agreed to donate one fully equipped police car to the new officer, who will split time between the district’s two buildings. The department also has agreed to provide the new officer with any necessary training, he said.

Mr. MacFann said during the Nov. 19 board workshop session that the ideal person for the job might be a retired state trooper or other retired police officer. He said the hire will have to enjoy working with students and have patience with them.

“It’s not like pulling over a drug dealer on Route 30,” he said.

Mr. MacFann said he hopes to have the new officer in place by the beginning of the next school year “at the latest.”

He said the district’s job description for the officer is modeled after one supplied by Gateway School District.

East Allegheny school board member Connie Rosenbayger said she would like parents and teachers to have an opportunity to provide input on the hiring plan.