UASD to seek trained officers for armed security posts
Uniontown Area School District could become the first in Fayette County to have trained security carrying a firearm in all of its buildings.
In a 7-2 vote, directors last week approved a measure granting permission for its superintendent to advertise for retired municipal and state police officers to apply for newly created positions in the district.
“I’m supportive of the decision the board made,” said Dr. Charles Machesky, superintendent. “Moving forward, we are going to make sure that we find a pool of applicants to meet the stringent state criteria for weapons training.”
Uniontown Area will be the first district in Fayette, Greene, Westmoreland or Washington counties to have armed security in all of its schools.
“I think the time has come. I’m anxious to move forward, someone has to take the first step,” said Machesky
In February, Fayette County Career and Technical Institute in Georges Township became the first school in the county to allow its security chief to carry a concealed weapon after board members from Albert Gallatin Area, Brownsville Area, Laurel Highlands and Uniontown Area who serve on the joint operating committee put their stamp of approval on the measure.
Jeff Myers’ career in law enforcement spans 33 years, he retired from the federal Bureau of Prisons in 2011. Myers, 53, has served as the chief of security at FCCTI for two years and supports the idea of arming trained personnel in school districts.
“If someone comes through that door with dangerous intentions, at least it gives us a fighting chance,” said Myers.
His weapon is concealed at all times with double safety restraints so it would be difficult for anyone to gain access to it, he said.
FCCTI has reinforced glass and technology upgrades that add more layers to security at the school.
“It’s unfortunate to lock down schools like prisons, but that’s the only way to control who comes in and out,” said Myers.
The executive director of the vocational school said the feedback wasn’t completely supportive of the measure at first.
“Not all calls were complimentary until parents found out (Myers’) credentials,” said Dr. Edward Jeffreys. “Parents then realized the experience behind the decisions and that it isn’t that we don’t trust their son or daughter, but it’s a way to protect them.”
At the monthly board meeting on April 16, directors in the Albert Gallatin Area School District gave unanimous approval authorizing security guards with Act 235 Lethal Weapons Training to carry a firearm when stationed at the front entrance of the high school and its parking lots.
Machesky said his district is modeling its policy after one in place in the Butler Area School District, which began arming security guards in 2012.
“We will be calling Harrisburg to make sure what we put in place is within state guidelines. The Butler model has been in place for two years, and they have been successful. They employ only retired state and municipal officers — these are the two groups that have approval and the proper training,” Machesky said.
He explained weapons are school district-issued in the Butler school district and when security officers leave the job site the guns are placed in a gun safe on school property and properly secured.
Machesky said the district’s security budget will be increased by $70,000 over last year to an estimated total of $415,000 which will cover costs to hire seven retired officers at $18 per hour for the 180-day school year. In addition, current security personnel will be utilized throughout the district, and no one will lose their job as a result of the new plan, according to the superintendent. However, current security will not carry a firearm unless they have successfully completed Act 235 training.
The district will see a savings in overtime by security personnel and by not replacing the chief of police, who retired in December.
“There’s no doubt this is a budgetary issue, but it’s necessary to secure our schools,” said Machesky.
School directors Thomas George and Bill Gerke voted against the motion, but Director Susan Clay voted in favor, although she admits in the past she was adamant about not arming security.
“I am still apprehensive, but if we get the right personnel with the right frame of mind …” said Clay. “I never thought I would vote for this, but the times are changing.”
A mixed response was received on the Herald-Standard Facebook page when a question was posed asking for feelings and concerns over the issue.
Many people supported the arming “qualified” and “properly trained” guards; however, several people did express concerns.
“There are better ways to make schools safer. Putting dangerous guns in the school, without the guarantee that it will end up another tragic news story, just seems too sketchy for some. Thank God the children in our schools have not gone as far as bombing, stabbing or shooting up one of our schools already. But what is a security guard going to be allowed to do with that gun? Draw it on students? What guidelines will they have when it comes to drawing a loaded weapon on a minor? Or is it just for intimidation purposes? I think we may have other options and ideas to look at. I would not feel comfortable knowing my child is going into a building everyday for eight hours with gun-toting security guards,” one Facebook follower commented.
Myers said today’s schools must be prepared to enlist a host of security procedures and tools from pepper spray to metal detectors to arming security.
“You can’t do the stuff you did 25 years ago,” he said. “Time doesn’t stand still.”