NEW CASTLE —
The Shenango Area School District is implementing security measures for its elementary and junior/senior high schools.
The administration recommended the measures to the school board, which accepted them this week. The changes come in the wake of shootings last month at a Connecticut elementary school that resulted in the deaths of 20 students and six adults.
“We decided to take a look at what security procedures we have in place and to identify what we needed to improve,” said Superintendent Dr. Michael Schreck.
Under the plan, Shenango Township police officers will provide a visible presence in both buildings throughout the school day.
Asked whether there would be a monetary cost to the district for having township police in the schools, Schreck said that has yet to be determined.
“We have an excellent relationship with the township police department, and they are willing to assist us in any way they can,” he said.
In-service training will be provided for teachers on how to proceed if an “active shooter” is on the premises.
The training also will include identifying “at-risk” students who need help.
Under what is referred to as three- to five-minute strategies, buildings will be made more secure with new locks, systems to control access to building, plus additional security cameras and sensors.
Panic buttons also will be installed in both buildings alerting teachers and police to a lock down.
Other considerations for the future include installation of phones in elementary classrooms, direct communication from classroom to classroom and the ability to make building announcements from a classroom.
Schreck said these would be considered for the district’s 2013-14 budget.
The district also will have state police perform a risk assessment of the school grounds in the future.
The security procedures, Schreck said, resulted from a risk assessment performed of both buildings and the recommendations of a 22-member safety committee.
Schreck, two school principals and township police Superintendent William Phillips performed the assessment during the holiday break.
The committee was comprised of administrators, school board members and concerned parents. It also included Tina Marshall, county emergency medical services coordinator; township fire Chief David Rishel; former district attorney Matthew Mangino; and Phillips.
(Email: jmanna@ncnewsonline.com)
Schools
Related Photos
Discussion
Shenango Schools: Police to have more presence in buildings
- Schools
-
-
Photo Gallery: Check out our images from the Shenango High prom!
The pomp. The pageantry. The pairs. The pictures. Yes, it’s prom season once again in Lawrence County and the New Castle News is on hand to document all the fun and excitement. We hope you enjoy our photo galleries! Today, Shenango High.
-
Your Tax Money: Four districts undecided on vo-tech budget
Four school districts are still deciding whether to support the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center’s 2013-14 budget. The New Castle, Wilmington, Mohawk and Ellwood City school boards are waiting until June to vote on the proposed spending plan as they contemplate a growing debt the center owes to six of its eight member school districts.
-
Our Opinion: State audit says city school district failed to collect from non-residents
Audit information about non-resident students who didn’t pay tuition at New Castle raises more questions than it answers. At least so far. We expect more details when the Pennsylvania auditor general’s office completes its report and the New Castle school district provides its response.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Laurel senior county’s new dairy princess
The two candidates cross their fingers and the crowd goes silent, awaiting the verdict. And the 2013-2014 Lawrence County Dairy Princess is — Rhonda Mitcheltree!
-
In The Schools: Keystone Exam could up graduation stakes
The typical Pennsylvania student will spend more than 46 hours taking standardized state tests during his or her academic career. That equals more than a week’s worth of school and does not take into account the amount of time that schools spend specifically preparing for tests or helping students who have failed standardized tests.
-
New Castle Schools: District answers two state audit findings
New Castle school district administration answered two of the findings in a state auditor general’s preliminary report. The audit, which has not yet been finalized, covered the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years. The preliminary report also contains an observation, which the district answered.
-
New Castle Schools: Finding pinpoints nonpaying out-of-district pupils
New Castle school board members are waiting for the final determinations of a state audit that contained three preliminary findings. Earlier this month the board publicly discussed those findings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and the district administration has responded to two of them to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.
-
Rockin’ Recess: Laurel youngsters earn a morning of music, health education
Hands clapping. Arms waving. Crowd chanting. That was the scene at Laurel Elementary School yesterday morning. Laurel beat out four other school districts in the UPMC For Kids and Radio Disney-sponsored “Attendance Counts” competition.
-
Lawmakers looking at special education funding
The state hands out special education dollars under a flawed formula that gives schools the same amount of money, regardless of how many students need services or how intense and costly those services are, lawmakers said.
-
Our Opinion: We endorse candidates for New Castle board
The New Castle school district is often a study in contrasts. There are complaints about the district on everything from taxes to nepotism, from test scores to ethical slights. Yet at the same time, plenty of students within the district excel. It’s a tribute to the hard work of those students, their families and the educators who support them.
- More Schools Headlines
-
