In the wake of school shootings like those at Sandy Hook Elementary in December 2012 and Stoneman Douglas High School in February 2018, government officials in Pennsylvania felt compelled to take action on school security.

They enacted Act 44, which formed a School Safety and Security Committee that was tasked with developing the criteria schools use in performing security assessments and judging preparedness.

Less than a year after being signed into law, it is clear that Act 44 is having positive results and making students across the state safer.

The latest sign of this came this week, when Mars School District officials signaled their intention to create a district police force beginning next fall.

The concept came about after testing and evaluation of the district’s existing security measures by individuals hired via Act 44’s security team requirement. The study found that while students were safe and the system worked, it could be better.

It isn’t easy to admit flaws and faults, particularly when the criticism deals with the safety and protection of our children. However, Mars officials took the criticism and recommendations and ran with them, creating a plan that helps to best serve students, while also keeping community connections strong.

Under the plan, the district will hire three retired officers to staff district buildings. These armed officers will be overseen by two on-duty Adams Township police officers, who will be rotated from a pool of four.

Township and district officials stressed the importance of working together to keep the relationship between the two strong. While they admitted it was contentious at times, the ultimate goal for all parties was the safety of students, and for that they should be commended.

The district should also be commended not only for its investment into security — an additional $200,000 is budgeted under that line item next year — but also for making that investment in an effort to get more out of the taxpayers’ dollars. The agreement with the township, while slightly more than the current one, will see a more impactful return on the investment.

Under the current arrangement, the district pays about $148,000 for one officer who patrols the entire campus, plus additional fees for traffic control each morning and afternoon. The new agreement sees the district get two full-time officers with traffic control included for $150,000. This is a sign that both the district and township believe security knows no price tag.

The overall plan is a giant step in the right direction for the district, and goes a long way toward giving peace of mind to parents that their students are being protected from whatever evil lurks. We hope and believe other districts will make their own changes moving forward thanks to the directive of state officials.

— JWJ