Security the focus of Greater Johnstown School District board meeting

JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Superintendent Amy Arcurio provided an update Tuesday about how security is being handled at Greater Johnstown School District during this first year with contracted police officers in the schools.

GJSD previously used school resource officers provided by the Johnstown Police Department.

However, with the JPD having staffing issues, the positions were not always filled. So the district decided to hire a four-person staff – a supervisor and one officer apiece for each of the three schools. The four officers currently have more than 114 years of combined law enforcement experience, according to Assistant to the Superintendent Michael Dadey.

"We have our positions solid with our individuals," Arcurio said during the school board's regular monthly meeting. "I think it's a great example of forward thinking."

She continued: "We position (our students) to have real relationships with police officers, to see them as helpful individuals in the community and someone they can turn to. ... It's all about building those relationships.

"Those students know that there's a friendly person in this school district that supports me, supports my family, and I can turn to them in the community if there's ever a time where I need help and I need support."

An objection was raised during courtesy of the floor as to why it was necessary to have all the security personnel.

Later in the meeting, board member Randy Romesberg said, "There's no such thing as too much security in today's world."