ADAMS TWP — Mars Area School District is one step closer to having a dedicated police force after the school board hired three full-time officers, as well as two substitutes.

Earlier this year, the board unveiled a plan to put an armed police officer in each school building. The district and Adams Township entered into an agreement in which two full-time officers from the township police department would be stationed in the schools for $150,000 per school year.

During a special board meeting Tuesday, the board approved hiring Daniel G. Herr, Robert J. Lagoon and Theodore A. Hunt as full-time school police officers at a rate of $24 per hour. It also approved Gerald K. Markle and Peter J. Vogel as substitute officers at the same rate.

According to Superintendent Wesley Shipley, all five are retired state police officers. He said the district had a large pool of candidates, but many did not qualify under Act 44 guidelines.

Act 44 created the Safe Schools and Security Committee, which developed criteria districts use in performing school safety and security measures. The guidelines only permit retired state police officers to be hired for the positions.

However, Shipley said the qualified candidates were “excellent,” with the pool narrowed down over two days of interviews conducted by a team that included district administration and a school board representative. Adams Township Police Chief Shawn Anglum was also involved in reviewing applications.

Shipley said the officers will begin Aug. 1, with training taking place before the school year starts. He said the township is also in the process of hiring additional officers for the force.

According to district Solicitor Tom King, a state Senate bill could soon be signed by Gov. Tom Wolf which would significantly change the school police code.

Part of that increases initial training and requires ongoing work, and requires hires to complete a resource officer training course. King noted those hired Tuesday are already permitted to carry a weapon, as they are retired officers.

He said changes to the law leave some questions to be answered, including whether the officers are entitled to the district's pension plan. He said because the new hires are retired, they already have a pension, and the district will adapt regardless of the outcome.

“The hiring of these gentlemen ... is in my view an excellent move,” he said. “They're extremely well qualified.”

The police force will be supplemented by additional security guards.