Lenape Tech Administrative Director Karen Brock and Joint Operating Committee President Joseph Close (representing the Armstrong School District) review financial items during last week’s regular meeting - including a new contract with Manor Township for the purpose of a School Resource Officer 20 hours per week.
by Jonathan Weaver
In less than two weeks, Manor Township Police Chief Eric Petrosky and two other officers will begin as School Resource Officers at Lenape Technical School.
Lenape Tech Joint Operating Committee members – who are school board directors from Apollo-Ridge, Armstrong, Freeport and Leechburg school districts – unanimously approved the contract Thursday.
Lenape Administrative Director Karen Brock said she and Assistant Director/Principal Wesley Kuchta have had discussions with Chief Petrosky for the past few months.
“Both Mr. Kuchta and I have history with resource officers at Deer Lakes and it helps students build good relationships with police officers,” Brock said. “The police officer will also work with the students by creating lessons on safe practices (such as) texting and driving, making good decisions. He will be presenting those lessons in small groups.
“It is strictly more about relationship-building than security. He’s going to be all over,” Brock continued. “He’s like a mentor also, because students may feel like they need to talk to somebody but they won’t come to a school official.”
Brock and Petrosky agreed that the contract also alleviates more pressure on the Pennsylvania State Police troopers based in East Franklin Township.
“(Pennsylvania State Police assist in) the whole county. (Manor Township Police) is just trying to do our part as a municipal department to help alleviate some of the strain on the Pennsylvania State Police,” Chief Petrosky said. “We’re just trying to be a bigger part and help the community as much as we can.”
Under the terms of the contract, Chief Petrosky will begin March 1 after Lenape Tech received a nearly-$10,000 Office of Safe Schools implementation grant. The contract extends until June 30, 2020.
Chief Petrosky or another Manor Township Police officer will be at Lenape Tech 20 hours per week, but Chief Petrosky said Manor Township residents will still be safe.
“(The new contract) will not have an impact on local police coverage. We will have officers out while (school resource officers) are at the school,” Chief Petrosky said. “There will be no (negative) impact on the community or loss of police services.”
Local taxes will also not be raised due to the contract.
Before the committee meeting began, school committee members began discussing the 2017-18 school year budget salaries and benefits.
Brock said next year’s budget includes more than a three percent wage increase projection for teachers. Teachers are currently negotiating their new contract.
Healthcare expenses are expected to increase about 13 percent and retirement another two percent.
The rest of the budget is expected to be reviewed before the March committees meeting at 6PM. Committee meetings are open to the public.