Jul 26, 2018 3 min read

CHARLEROI – As the school year draws near, enhanced security measures are being implemented in Charleroi Area School District.

An additional resource officer has been hired and the district will now have security at all three schools with two resource officers and a security officer. Superintendent Edward Zelich said at Tuesday’s school board meeting the additional resource officer will fill a need when the other officer may be away from campus during court appearances.

“We will now have two officers with arresting powers and additional security if needed,” he said. The new resource officer will be placed at the elementary school. There is a resource officer at the high school and a security officer at the middle school.

In addition, eight new exterior security doors will be installed at various entrances at the campus that have been identified as weaknesses. Zelich said after the Virginia Tech mass shooting in 2007, where doors were chained shut, door handle technology began to be modified. The new safety doors are made with handles cannot be tied together or barricaded and with smaller windows. He added in assessing the district’s security, the board felt that those items needed to be upgraded.

The cost of the doors is about $50,000, which will be paid out of the general fund.

The board also approved a partnership with Counseling & Wellness LLC for school-based mental health therapy services. The partnership will address at-risk students starting at the elementary level. Zelich said many school districts are moving in this direction with the goal of preventing possible future problems or tragedies by addressing issues early.

The board approved a partnership with Mon Valley YMCA to offer a before- and after-school program for students in pre-kindergarten through first or second grade. The YMCA currently offers a program at its facility for Ringgold School District. Diane Nonack, YMCA director of early childhood programs, said the program grew out of need in the community.

“We have had many parents ask about it. Because of the district lines, Charleroi School District cannot bus the students to and from the YMCA. The YMCA is located in the Ringgold School District. We decided to offer the program at the district,” she explained. The program will not only benefit working parents, but it will be an educational benefit to students. There will be educational activities, homework help and snacks provided.

The program will begin at the start of the school year and will run from 6:30 a.m. until the beginning of school and then from school dismissal until 6:30 p.m. There will be no cost to the district for the program. Parent costs will be comparable to other before- and after-school programs. More information about the program will be on the district’s Facebook page.