School News
- Last Updated on Thursday, 31 January 2013 22:49
By Kyra Bergman
The Community Room at the Charleroi Area High School was standing room only for a Parent Council meeting on January 9, 2013 to discuss school security. Charleroi Superintendent Dr. Brad Ferko and district security director Chief Mike Kresich led a discussion and answered questions.
The Community Room at the Charleroi Area High School was standing room only for a Parent Council meeting on January 9, 2013 to discuss school security. Charleroi Superintendent Dr. Brad Ferko and district security director Chief Mike Kresich led a discussion and answered questions.
Dr. Ferko explained additional cameras had been added so that every car coming onto campus can be monitored and several other new security measures were being discussed by district officials such as a swipe card system to secure doors and badges for all employees. A system that locks all school building doors automatically is also being considered. However, Ferko noted that students move from the high school to the building that contains the auditorium and gymnasium for classes frequently throughout the day; this could cause difficulties for an automatic locking system.
“We‘re not reacting because of what occurred. We do have a crisis plan and we have done an active shooter drill.” Ferko said. “District officials do not want a knee-jerk reaction to Sandy Hook, but a well-thought-out plan.”
Chief Kresich said each classroom teacher is equipped with a flip chart, crisis response handbook detailing what to do in a number of different emergency situations including a hostage situation, a driving-by shooting, and a health emergency among numerous others.
Kresich is a member of the Charleroi Regional Police Dept. He said the district campus is located in Fallowfield Twp., which currently has no police force. But he said regional police could be on campus in two minutes in the event of an emergency. Kresich also noted that a number of officers have children in the district.
Parents expressed a great deal of concern over the fact that the campus includes three schools but Kresich is the only one who patrols the buildings. One local mother stated that she wouldn’t mind seeing the school locked down like a prison if it meant her children were safe. Another suggested raising the school tax to get funds for increased security measures and personnel but a third Charleroi resident countered that raising taxes might help increase school safety but could make it difficult for some less fortunate families to keep their children fed.
Dr. Ferko was eager to take suggestions from the community about what they wanted to see happen in the schools. Kresich added that he wanted the parents to feel involved in the process.
