The High School will get the first officers

Westfall - The Delaware Valley School Board voted unanimously to hire the first of four school police officers to cover all campuses and weekend and after school events in the district. The hiring will come within the next few weeks.

Director of Support Services Marvin Eversdyke outlined a three phase plan to the Board at a special safety meeting.

Phase one would allow for the hiring of a twelve month school police officer who would be Act 120 certified, uniformed, and armed. This person would cover the high school complex from approximately 7:30am until 3pm. A ten month officer would be hired for the Dingman Delaware Campus and another ten month officer would cover weekend and after school events. The cost for phase one would be approximately $172,000 to pay the three officers and buy their uniforms.

Phase two would add more security cameras on campuses and radios for the school police officers. Cost would be around $145,000.

Phase three would allow for talk boxes at school entrances and two unarmed security guards.

After questioning why Shohola Elementary was not on the list for coverage, the board agreed to hire one twelve month officer and three ten month officers so the Shohola campus would also be covered. Money would be taken away from phase two to help pay the cost.

School officers hired should have previous law enforcement experience, knowledge of school law, since the district will be the employer, have experience in the arresting process, be familiar with the way the prosecutor’s office works, and Act 120 certified.

The total cost to DV would be around $223,000 depending how long it takes to hire all four officers. It was also agreed that the first officer to be hired would aide in the selection of the other three officers.