Tamaqua gets money for officer

District security was discussed during Tuesday’s Tamaqua Area School Board workshop meeting at the Tamaqua Area High School.

Assistant Superintendent Dr. Stephen Toth noted that the district applied for and received a $40,000 grant to help enhance school safety.

“This will allow us, because we received a $40,000 grant from (the Pennsylvania Department of Education) to advertise and get any type of security officers, school resource officers or school security guards,” Toth said. “That’s the type of people who are going to put applications in. It is a grant, but it’s at least something that will help protect our students. That’s the first and foremost priority.”

Toth said that they would like to split up the money and hopefully have two security personnel members.

Armed personnel in the district buildings are just one component of a larger security plan that the school board and administration members have been working on over the past few months.

The board is also waiting for the district’s feasibility study to be completed, which will give a more accurate look at potentially reconfiguring building entryways among other security matters.

Tamaqua adopted a controversial policy to arm staff in 2018. The policy was rescinded, but the board formed a community safety commission to study the needs of the district.

The recommendations were briefly shared with board members last month. The seven components are: policies and procedures, prevention, training, facility infrastructure, confronting an active shooter, triage, and access to facility during an emergency.

More information is expected to be presented when the board meets next week.

“Obviously we will continue to apply for grant opportunities whenever they pop up,” Toth said.

“We’ve been fortunate to get grant money; last year we got it for school security cameras. This year we put in for the SRO and we were able to get that. We’re very fortunate to have this money and put it to good use.”