Southmoreland school officials agree to hire school resource officer
Southmoreland school district administrators are hoping to soon add another level of safety and security within the district.
At their recent meeting, school board directors agreed to post and advertise for the position of school resource officer.
Superintendent John Molnar said one of the benefits of the position will be to establish a good relationship between law enforcement entities and the district.
Part of the job description will be for the individual to assist in arrests for any criminal activity and to help in keeping illicit drugs out of schools.
“It could possibly by a retired (Pennsylvania) state trooper, or maybe it could be a police officer who is working part-time at a police department,” Molnar said.
In other business, a motion passed for the administration to seek proposals for school solicitor services for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2017.
School directors Gail Rhodes and Michael Bentz voted against the motion and directors James Beistel and Cheryl Byers Shipley were absent from the meeting.
David Petonic is currently the solicitor of the district.
In other board business, directors agreed to give Jason Bandemere the supplemental contract for the seventh-grade basketball coaching position. He will receive $2,315.
Directors also agreed to accept the resignations of Bob King as head girls’ varsity soccer coach and Sam Coffman as head varsity volleyball coach and middle school assistant volleyball coach.
In other personnel business, directors agreed to appoint John Stiver, CPA, to conduct the audit of the 2015-16 fiscal year at a cost of $14,775.
The next school board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Dec. 5.