Uniontown Area to purchase metal detectors with grant money
The Uniontown Area School District will use funds secured through a state grant to purchase and install four metal detectors in four of its school buildings.
Superintendent Dr. Charles Machesky said the district is the recipient of a grant through the state Department of Education’s (PDE) Safe Schools initiative for the purchase of four metal detectors to be utilized at the entrance of district schools.
Machesky said the district learned of its receipt of the grant Monday morning from PDE. He said district police Chief Donald Gmitter will determine the placement of the metal detectors.
According to Gmitter, three of the new metal detectors will be installed at the three district schools — Franklin, Marclay and Wharton elementary schools — that currently lack detection devices.
“Every school in the district will (now) have a metal detector,” said Gmitter.
The fourth detector is planned for installation at A.J. McMullen School, where two entrances are currently serviced by one metal detector, Gmitter said.
The district anticipates the devices being in place for start of the upcoming school year.
PDE’s Office for Safe Schools Grant offers schools the opportunity to apply for competitive funding up to $25,000 to purchase metal detectors, surveillance equipment and other security-related equipment.
Gmitter said the Safe Schools grant awarded to Uniontown, which totals the full $25,000 amount, will be used in conjunction with federal funds secured by the district to purchase the four metal detectors and additional security equipment.
Uniontown has made a deliberate effort to bolster security at its school buildings this year following a thwarted shooting attempt at Uniontown Area High School in January. Increased security measures by the district have included revisions to several policies and procedures and investment in additional security equipment.
In a safety-related matter, school directors Monday approved the first reading of a district emergency response plan that was created in coordination with various local and state emergency response agencies.
Gmitter said the district developed the comprehensive plan over the last year to provide guidelines for district personnel, students and parents to follow when experiencing various emergency scenarios, including natural hazards, utility failures and acts of violence, among others.