Municipal officers will still have a role in Fox Chapel Area School District plans

Tawnya Panizzi
Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 1:42 p.m. | Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020 1:42 p.m.

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Tribune-Review

Fox Chapel Area schools will be patrolled by the district’s police force in 2020-21, rather than by a school resource officer as in the past. Shown here is Len Lander, Hempfield School District’s chief resource officer, watching as students walk through the halls.

Fox Chapel Area officials and local governments are sorting out responsibilities for district police coverage now that budget reductions have eliminated municipal officers from working in district buildings in 2020-21.

Municipal officers still will have a role during high school sports and other activities, officials said.

O’Hara Officer Ben Wolfson told township council during its July meeting that the two sides are in the process of sorting details.

“We’re still learning what will be needed from us, but we plan to have it ironed out before school,” Wolfson said. “It’s just a matter of nailing down responsibilities.”

One duty that municipal officers will retain is working security at Fox Chapel Area High School football games.

Bonnie Berzonski, district coordinator of communications, said school officials plan for municipal officers to work other sporting events as well, along with members of the district’s own police force.

In 2019-20, the district paid $240 to each municipal police officer per athletic event.

“There may also be other times that the municipal officers would be called to work at the district,” she said. “This would depend upon the situation and what the school district’s needs are.”

The school board approved its $102 million budget in June, cutting out municipal police who worked as school resource officers at the high school and Dorseyville Middle School.

Those roles will be covered by the district’s school police force. It is a move that is expected to save about $120,000 this year, Berzonski said.

She said one officer from the district’s police force will be based in each school building to maintain safety, interact with students, build relationships and provide programming.

“Our local municipal police officers will have access to our schools any time, and the school district values and appreciates the relationships that we have built with our local municipal police departments,” she said. “Additionally, they will assist the school district any time we need emergency assistance through 911.”

Wolfson said officers from O’Hara have worked at the high school for at least 17 years.