Penfield schools outline security steps after Sept. 18 threat; district will add security workers, not SROs

Penfield Central School District Superintendent Dr. Potter said Tuesday the district took immediate steps after a Sept. 18 student-related threat and has strengthened school security through partnerships with the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and a contracted firm, Blackhawk Security and Investigations.

In a superintendent's report to the Board of Education, Potter said the New York State Police led the investigation and that the district relied on information provided by the state police investigator. "At no point did the district take the threat lightly," Potter said, adding that the district cannot disclose student-identifying details because of student privacy laws.

The district described layered security measures already in place and further steps it is taking. Ted Wilson, the district's safety and security coordinator, said access to buildings is routed through one main entrance and that visitor screening requires a New York State'issued ID run through an ID verification system. Wilson described an emergency app the district uses, known as the TAP app, which sends lockdown notifications to county sheriff command vehicles and allows staff-to-staff text communications that are also visible to responding deputies.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office Captain Kreiser and Deputy Todd Thurston told the board they increased foot patrols and on-campus presence after the incident to reassure families and assist with threat assessment. Kreiser said the state police initiated the investigation because threats reported through the national database are routed to state troopers. "We always treat them as credible right from the start," Kreiser said.

The district said it currently employs three security workers (one at Penfield High School, one at Bay Trail Middle School supporting two campuses, and one placed at Cobble's), and maintains sentries in its schools: one sentry at each elementary school, eight at Bay Trail, and an allocation for 10 at Penfield High School. Sentries have undergone an eight-hour guard training and a 16-hour on-the-job training program through Blackhawk, Wilson said, including report writing, foot patrols, observation exercises, and conflict resolution training.

Potter and Wilson outlined other safety practices and protocols: the district completes state-required emergency drills (Wilson said the district conducts eight evacuation drills, four lockdown drills and one early dismissal drill annually), uses a Behavioral Intervention Team (BIT) and partners with Monroe County's Forensic Intervention Team (FIT) and Office of Mental Health, and follows the district's code of conduct when considering disciplinary responses. Potter said tier 3 responses in the code of conduct can include referral to BIT, suspension up to five days, referral to the Committee on Special Education or 504 processes, superintendent's hearings that may result in long-term suspension, and a reengagement plan for return to school.

On staffing, Potter said the district is seeking to hire two additional security workers so each elementary campus will have coverage; job postings are active. The board was told the district will not implement school resource officers (SROs) or armed guards in each school at this time. "Research and best practice guidance in school safety demonstrate that a layered approach provides the most effective means of keeping students safe," Potter said, describing the district's approach as prevention programs, trained security personnel, law-enforcement partnership, and emergency preparedness.

Blackhawk Security and Investigations, the district's contracted professional services firm approved by the board in July, conducts background checks on personnel through New York State and the FBI and provides armed guards who, the district said, are authorized to use weapons only when life is in danger. Dr. Dan Driffill, assistant superintendent for business and finance, said the district moved from a commodity-based bid process to a request-for-proposals process for the 2025-26 year because the district sought a broader professional-services relationship.

The district said it will continue to review drills and incident reports, document after-action items, and strengthen communications to families. Potter said the district has shared multiple communications with staff and families since the incident, including messages on Sept. 19, Sept. 21, Sept. 22, Oct. 1 and Oct. 3, and that a parent meeting was scheduled following requests for meetings.

Discussion and directives recorded in the meeting included plans to hire two security workers, continued collaboration with Monroe County Sheriff's Office and county mental-health partners, and continued use and oversight of the Blackhawk contract. The board asked county partners about social media and public posts; Kreiser advised caution, saying posts can spread unverified information and hinder investigations.

The board and district emphasized that privacy laws limit what officials can disclose about students while also saying they will notify the public if they determine an active threat exists.