Penns Valley Area School District will hire police force, implement new alarm systems

After months of discussion, Penns Valley Area School District voted Wednesday to start the process of establishing a school police force.

The Penns Valley Area School Board unanimously approved four motions to start the hiring process for four school police officers at its Wednesday night meeting. The board approved motions authorizing the administration to file an application with the prothonotary’s office, create a security staffing plan and positions for three officers and one supervisor.

Until all four positions are filled, Superintendent Brian Griffith will draw up a staffing plan for officers to rotate through each district building. Once hiring is complete, one officer will be stationed in each district building.

After the vote, board president Domer Smetlzer thanked the community for their input, noting the long discussions and town hall sessions many attended. The district conducted a community survey in the fall, with 85% of the 445 responses in favor of employing school security.

“Thank you everyone, we made some big steps tonight,” Smeltzer. “This is a big step for Penns Valley.”

The district estimates a $250,000 cost for the officers, approximately $36 per year for each taxpayer, according to the district’s business manager, Lynn Naugle. The district’s survey showed wide support for school police officers, with 90% saying they would support a tax increase to pay for the initiative.

Griffith said there are several interested applicants and the district could see an officer hired by the board’s Feb. 15 meeting.

The board also approved the implementation of a districtwide door alarm system with $122,690 from a Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency grant.