Laurel Highlands votes to arm another security guard
Mike Tony | Herald-Standard
The Laurel Highlands School Board at its regular monthly meeting Thursday voted to arm a security guard that was previously unarmed in that capacity within the school district. The board has now voted to arm three security guards in the past two months, having already hired an armed assistant to the district chief of police in February.
Mike Tony | Herald-Standard
Laurel Highlands Superintendent Jesse Wallace (left) said that all options remain open regarding the district’s budget, and district school board President Melvyn Sepic opposed what the district’s solicitor said was a precautionary measure to allow for staff realignments.
The Laurel Highlands School Board has voted to arm another security guard that was previously unarmed in that capacity within the school district.
The board unanimously voted to approve David Mitchell as an armed security guard at Clark Elementary School, bumping up the district’s total number of armed security personnel to five.
Last month, the board voted to arm two other security guards within the district, Paul Palya and Bruce Schmolke.
The board also unanimously voted to increase pay for armed security guards to $15 per hour from $12.85.
In related business, the board approved new uniforms for security guards in another unanimous vote.
“I want to make sure there is something on back of the polo shirts that is going to identify them as school police officers,” school director Jamie Miller-D’Andrea said. “My concern is if students, staff, administration are looking at them from behind, that makes them blend in just like any other staff and not making them easily visible for help.”
District Chief of Police Richard Barron said that the district’s police officers and security guards will be identified respectively and prominently as such on both the front and back of their clothing.
“I think it’s going to make a terrific change in the appearance of our security people in the school district,” board President Melvyn Sepic said.
School director Beverly Beal reported that all district security guards attended strategic active threat incident response training last month and were awarded certificates of completion.
In other business, the board unanimously approved a tentative 2018-19 budget of $52,603,666, with final adoption required before June 30 in accordance with the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
“As we continue to whittle our budget numbers down, we feel it is prudent to leave all options open and on the table, including a possible millage increase,” Wallace said after the meeting. “However, at this juncture, nothing is concrete.”
The board advertised on Sunday that it will take final action on the proposed budget at a regular meeting on June 21 at 6 p.m. at the high school auditorium, with a work session to be held June 19 at 5 p.m. in the board room of the administration office.
After some trepidation, the board approved what district Solicitor Gary Frankhouser said was a precautionary measure allowing the realignment of staff as may be required depending on what programs are added, amended or deleted as the district continues its budget preparation process.
“This motion is requested to allow the superintendent in compliance with the law and the collective bargaining agreement to realign the staff following any such deletions or additions presented and to post the vacancies resulting from that realignment,” Frankhouser explained.
The board initially voted 5-4 against the measure.
“Therefore, the superintendent’s not permitted to realign the staff if necessary?” Frankhouser asked.
“I believe we need to have another meeting concerning the budget before we can determine (that),” Sepic replied. ” … I’m not in favor of abolishing positions. I know we have to realign maybe some programs, but I’m not in favor of abolishing people’s positions.”
Frankhouser said that it was “not anticipated at all” that he would be directed to notify affected individuals of pending suspension and their right to a hearing, as the measure allows.
“Historically this is something that’s been approved every year,” Wallace said. “No abolishments or curtailments would happen unless I had a meeting with the board to discuss that prior to that action being taken … I do not act unilaterally in that capacity at all.”
With the added stipulation that no abolishments would occur without further board action, the board voted again on the measure, this time approving it by a 6-3 vote. School directors Debra Bortz and Brandi Kalich flipped from opposing the measure to supporting it, while Sepic, Alicia Santore and Tom Landman voted against it again.
Additionally, the board terminated the employment of high school cafeteria manager Sherri David and 10-and-a-half-month high school custodian Keith Nicholson effective immediately. Both termination votes were unanimous. Frankhouser declined comment on the terminations after the meeting.
The board also announced that the Laurel Highlands Summer Food Program will be in operation from June 11 through Aug. 17, serving nutritious meals at the high school and Marshall Elementary School location for anyone 18 and under, regardless of income. Breakfast will be served from 7:45 until 9 a.m., and lunch will be served from 10:45 a.m. until 12:45 p.m. daily.