Albert Gallatin hires school police officers
To strengthen the district’s current security force, the Albert Gallatin Area School Board on Wednesday hired three, 10-month school police officers.
“I continually work with our police chief on how can we better prepare our district with personnel or with crisis training,” said Superintendent Carl Bezjak. “These are three excellent hires to complement our other staff and security personnel.”
Retired state police officers Jeffrey Ramsey, Charles Depp and David Davidson were hired at a salary of $23,552 for the current school year.
They previously worked for the district as security personnel. However, they will now be sworn in by the Court of Common Pleas through a court order, which will appoint them as school police officers.
James Bielecki, district chief of police, said they will now have more legal authority, including writing citations and carrying weapons.
“We’re going to be a leader in the county with this,” Bielecki said. “It’s a good thing.”
In other personnel action, the board hired Aimee Parquette as a temporary professional employee for chemistry at the Albert Gallatin Area High School at step two, and Scott Nemeth as a career counseling coordinator with salary and benefits according to the Career Counseling Grant not to exceed a two-year term.
Also Wednesday, Bezjak reported that the district received a $25,000 Earned Improvement Tax Credit (EITC) grant.
“We use it to enhance learning throughout the district for whatever we feel the greatest needs are,” he said.
According to Bezjak, the money, which was donated by the Scottdale Bank and Trust, was administered by the Consortium for Public Education.
The district has received the EITC grant in past years as well.
“With the tight budgets, this is definitely an asset to areas of need and concern,” Bezjak said.
In other business, the board:
n Authorized the purchase, installation and upgrade to all elementary school surveillance systems at a cost of $58,350. Bezjak said that the systems’ upgrade is part of the distict’s overall plan to improve security.
n Accepted the resignation of Lisa Neely, chemistry instructor, and Kelly Swartz, high school librarian.
n Accepted the retirement of Vicki Kerwatske, high school cafeteria manager.
n Added Michelle Glaid, Samantha Carr, Jamie Bogol, Emily Bota, Allison Pegg and Donna Lesko to the professional substitute list.
n Approved repairs to the high school chimney at a cost of $11,988.
n Approved to purchase a stage mat for the high school at a cost of $10,060 from Faris Carpet.