ADAMS TWP — The Mars School Board on Tuesday took steps to make the district's schools more secure.

To comply with a state safer schools law passed earlier this year, board members hired Louis William Gentile as safety and security coordinator for the district and appointed Jeffery Bitzer as an assistant to Gentile.

The hiring comes after Gov. Tom Wolf signed Act 44 into law, creating the Safe Schools and Security Committee.

Thomas King, district solicitor, said the district uses an Adams Township police officer, as well as private security guards at schools. Gentile will work with this team, King said.

Gentile is the founder of CSI Corporate Security & Investigations. He has a long background in law enforcement. He has worked for the state police, United States Attorney's Office in Pittsburgh and was the director for the Bureau of Narcotics in the Office of the Attorney General in Harrisburg.

“I think he'll bring a lot of expertise,” King said.

While the job is not full time, King said Gentile would be available at all times, and will likely address the board about the job next month. Wes Shipley, superintendent, said Gentile will work on an hourly rate, not to exceed a set number of hours per month. He said Gentile will likely work year-round, including the summer months.

“That will be the time when we're able to do some of the things we can't when students are in place,” he said.

Bitzer, meanwhile, serves as the district's director of telecommunications and safety systems and his new role will be an extension of those duties. King said Bitzer's background with the district's phone, IT and camera systems will make him an invaluable resource.

King and board members agreed the two positions are of the utmost importance.

“God forbid we ever need them, but if we do, they're there,” King said.