Westmoreland schools set plans to bolster safety

Like districts across the state, Derry Area wants to ensure that its students, faculty and staff have the safest academic experience possible.

So when security weaknesses were identified during an armed intruder drill last year, the district knew it had improvements to make.

Now, thanks to a state grant, those proposed improvements will become a reality.

Derry will receive $50,000 to add secondary locks to classroom doors, consolidate its card reader system at its schools, alarm its exterior doors, and ramp up its Raptor emergency system to better facilitate communication during an emergency.

“We’re always striving for efficiency with technology,” Derry Superintendent Greg Ferencak said.

With school funding often spread thin, Ferencak expressed gratitude that the state will provide this money.

Ten schools in Westmoreland County are recipients of the Safe Schools targeted grants. Statewide, 166 schools were awarded grants totaling over $8 million.

According to the state Department of Education, the grants aim to reduce student disciplinary actions, promote safe environments and enhance anti-violence efforts.

“Students should be able to focus on learning and growing in the classroom, and my administration will continue to work with our schools and local communities to ensure they have the support they deserve,” Gov. Josh Shapiro said in a news release.

The funding comes after schools across the country are wary of shootings and other violent acts on school grounds.

Looking at U.S. Department of Education data from 2010-11 compared to 2020-21, school shootings increased by 447%. During the 2010-11 school year, the nation reported seven fatal school shootings and 10 with injuries only. In 2020-21, there were 43 fatal shootings and 50 with injuries only.

The same data show that, in 2019, more than one-fifth of high schoolers reported being in at least one physical fight over a one-year period. During that time frame, 8% of high schoolers said they’ve been in a physical fight on school grounds.

In addition to Derry, three other school districts in Westmoreland County are recipients of grant money: Greensburg Salem, Norwin and Kiski Area. Greensburg Salem will receive about $10,000, Norwin will receive $50,000 and Kiski will receive about $50,000.

In an email, Greensburg Salem spokeswoman Ashley Kertes said the district will use these funds to make two safety-oriented purchases.

The district will buy new portable two-way radios for administrative staff and the school resource officer at its high school and middle school, she said. It will also purchase records management software to help manage daily public safety activities, including student incident reports.

“Both will allow the district to improve and enhance the safety, security and climate of our schools,” Kertes wrote.

Six private schools in the county will also benefit from the funding. Greensburg Central Catholic, Christ the Divine Teacher School and Preschool, , Merakey Education Center in Mount Pleasant, , Valley School of Ligonier, , and St. Sebastian Regional Catholic School each will recieve about $50,000 and Mary Queen of Apostles School will receive two grants totaling about $100,000.

In an email, Greensburg diocese spokesman Cliff Gorski said Christ the Divine Teacher School in Latrobe will use the funding to put additional security and access enhancements in the school’s entryways.

“The money provided in the grant will allow the school to provide additional safety measures,” Gorski wrote.