Panther Valley plans to add officer

Panther Valley School District is moving on from a failed deal with Summit Hill borough to provide armed guard services, exploring other options for security services at the district’s three school buildings.

On Thursday, the school board reacted to the news that Summit Hill Borough Council rejected a plan to split the cost of a new full-time police officer to be posted in the school district, and voted to explore new avenues toward getting an armed guard in the school.

The board voted to create a new police officer position inside the district, and explore a contract with a private security firm which would provide armed guards. They also agreed to add a video doorbell system outside two school buildings.

“We had parents come to our meeting, and we told them we would have armed security in our buildings,” said Gary Porembo, school board member.

The district hopes to advertise the position in the next week, but it may take longer, Superintendent Dennis Kergick said. However, board member Gary Porembo said it could be a year before the officer is in place.

In addition to salary there will be other costs involved, such as insurance. The district is looking to other local districts as a model.

“We’re mimicking what a lot of other school districts have done around here,” he said.

The district has also been considering partnering with a private security firm before the failed deal with Summit Hill. Kergick said they had a contract offer from County Security but rejected it after a deal with Summit Hill appeared imminent. He said the company has offered multiple guards who would be posted in multiple buildings on campus.

“It was different. It would have been more people, covering more buildings,” he said.

Last month Summit Hill borough council rejected a plan to evenly split the cost of an officer which would be posted in Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School. Council members pointed out that no other district in the county uses a municipal police officer.

Some felt that the cost of the officer shouldn’t be split 50-50 between the district and Summit Hill, and that Lansford, Coaldale and Nesquehoning should also contribute to the pact.

Board member Gary Porembo said he was offended by some of the statements made by Summit Hill council members about the school’s approach to security. Councilman David Wargo was quoted as saying “We can’t even get them to lock their doors and fix their cameras and they want us to put an officer at risk.”

The district also took steps toward addressing one of Wargo’s concerns during Thursday’s meeting, voting to install a door video intercom system at the elementary and intermediate schools.

Summit Hill Borough Council did offer to have a part-time officer patrol the school buildings, if the district reimbursed them for the cost. Panther Valley Junior-Senior High School and Intermediate School are located in Summit Hill, while Panther Valley Elementary is located in Nesquehoning.

Porembo said the statements made by Summit Hill council motivated him to look into options other than Summit Hill.

Porembo said Council made Panther Valley look terrible. “They actually knocked down the Panther Valley security system, as if we weren’t doing anything,” he said.