Upper Adams School Board is considering a three-year proposal from G-Force Security Solutions to provide a full-time armed school security officer.
The proposal comes as the result of a new state law requiring all Pennsylvania school districts to have at least one full-time security personnel, starting this school year.
G-Force already provides part-time security services to Upper Adams, typically at after-school events.
G-Force CEO Robert Gano and Vice President of School Safety and Security Steven Junkin described the role of a school security officer to the school board at its meeting Tuesday. Junkin said it is critical for that individual to build trust with students, parents and staff.
“They need to know that if that bad day ever comes, we’re the ones that are running toward that threat,” Junkin said. “But also, as we’re going through the hallways we’re fist bumping this student, we know that student’s name. We’re sitting down with the one that in the cafeteria looks to be having a bad day.”
Though G-Force employees carry years of law enforcement experience, they are not sworn in their roles as school security officers and cannot make arrests, according to Junkin.
Gano estimated G-Force school security officers are in nine different districts during the school day. He said the Central Pennsylvania-based business started with Northern York County School District in 2012 and has grown since the Parkland, Florida high school shooting in 2018.
Board member Loren Lustig posed a question regarding the training school security officers receive.
G-Force’s officers complete a 40-hour school resource officer training course and are certified under the Lethal Weapons Training Act, according to Junkin. Officers must also pass background checks.
Gano said their training goes beyond the minimum requirements and includes continuing education such as risk assessment class and adolescent mental health training. Additional training opportunities cover topics such as CPR, first aid, sexual harassment prevention, workplace diversity, de-escalation, first responder tactical training for active shooters, Narcan/Naloxone administration, and more, according to the G-Force proposal.
G-Force proposed a starting salary of $74,828 based on the officer working eight hours Monday through Friday during the 188-day academic year. This figure would increase to $77,634 in the 2025-2026 academic year and go up to $80,739.41 the following year.
The officer’s equipment would include a firearm in a security holster, according to the proposal. The officer would use a school vehicle to move between the district’s three campuses.
Board member Kay Hollabaugh asked how one officer would split their time between the campuses. Gano said they would seek guidance from the district on where they would like this one individual to spend their time.
Board President Jim Lady wanted to know if G-Force could assist the administration on truancy visits. Gano said the school security officer can provide such assistance, if needed.
Junkin described the school security officer as someone who would be part of the Upper Adams “team” and act as a consultant for staff. The officer can look for vulnerabilities in the buildings, review emergency plans, talk to students about internet safety, and more, he said.
“Every school district has their own culture. They have their own way of doing things. We understand that. We want to operate within that culture,” Junkin said.
The board plans to vote on the G-Force proposal at its next meeting Oct. 15.
“I think it’s long overdue and I’m glad that we’re moving in this direction,” board member Gerald Walmer said.
Speech language pathologist needed
To keep up with the growing demand for speech language services among students, Upper Adams will need to add to its staff.
Brian Booher, director of the department of student services, said the district’s two speech language pathologists are nearing their maximum case load. Pennsylvania School Code dictates that each have no more than 65 students each.
Speech language pathologists help students with their communication skills, Booher said, including pronunciation and comprehension. Students from kindergarten through 12th grade are currently receiving these services, with the majority in elementary school.
Booher said the district needs to hire a part-time speech language pathologist, but in three to five years there may be demand for that position to become full-time. He recommended the district create a part-time position at $36,000 annually.
Board member Tricia Plank asked if the district could possibly share a speech language pathologist with a neighboring district. Booher said he is open to ideas.
The district could hire a contractor to fill the position, but that individual would charge by the hour and could cost the district more than $134,000 per year, Booher estimated.
Superintendent Wesley Doll said the district prefers to employ staff directly rather than contract out services.
“The challenge becomes, it’s very difficult to find speech and language individuals that are certified appropriately to provide the service,” Doll said.
The board will consider the position at its next meeting.
Travel abroad
In other business, Biglerville High School girls have the opportunity to apply for an all-expenses-paid travel abroad program.
First Stamp, a nonprofit organization, offers two-week long travel experiences to girls who are at least 15 years old and have completed 10th grade. The group’s inaugural trip took place in Europe last year, Principal Beth Graham said.
First Stamp reached out to a local teacher and invited Biglerville students to apply for the first time this year, according to Graham.
“This program offers a fully funded global travel experience specifically for high school girls from rural areas of the United States,” Graham said. “The program’s goal is to broaden students’ perspectives and help them see how they can contribute both to their local community in the wider world and how they fit into that.”
All costs are covered by First Stamp, whether a student needs to purchase luggage or get their first passport, Graham said. One of the organization’s financial supporters is celebrity Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, she said.
Graham will seek approval from the school board to accept this partnership with First Stamp. The organization will come to Biglerville at the end of October, and Graham wishes to schedule an interest meeting with parents.
The school board’s next meeting is set for Oct. 15 at 7 p.m.
Mary Grace Kauffman, freelance reporter, worked six years as a full-time reporter for newspapers in Pennsylvania and Maryland. She has covered topics including business, crime, education, government and features. Mary Grace has a bachelor's degree in communication/journalism from Shippensburg University. She resides in Adams County.