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McKeesport board reviews safety upgrades; discusses emergency services vocational program
Summary
Board members reported plans to use grant funds for security vestibules and door hardware upgrades and discussed a proposed emergency-services vocational program aimed at recruiting local students into firefighting, policing and EMS careers.
Board members reported May 8 that the McKeesport Area School District is moving forward with facility security upgrades using capital and grant funds, and they discussed a proposal to add an emergency-services vocational program for students.
During the Safe Schools and building-and-grounds committee reports, directors said planned work includes a new security vestibule, rekeying and updating door hardware throughout the high school and other campus access-control upgrades. Committee members listed capital projects by name: McClure asphalt project, maintenance salt-shed relocation, Twin Rivers access-control panel and high-school guard booth updates; committee members said those items are being paid from the district’s capital reserve account.
Board members said the district has invited the city fire chief and chiefs from neighboring White Oak to coordinate emergency-response planning. The committee said it is discussing updated emergency-response practices — including a shift in some places away from immediate campus-wide evacuation in certain active-shooter scenarios — and plans to bring in county resources to evaluate active-shooter drills and evacuation planning.
Separately, a board member who also serves as a city firefighter outlined an informal proposal to develop a vocational program in emergency services aimed at introducing students to firefighting, policing and emergency medical technician careers. Board discussion described the proposal as exploratory; members said they would request cost estimates and staff analysis before pursuing curriculum changes. The board did not adopt any new policy or approve funding for the vocational program during the meeting.
Committee reports also noted operational details for athletics and health compliance: physicals for 2025 fall varsity and ninth-grade football are scheduled for May 30, and all other fall sports physicals are scheduled for May 31; the athletic trainer’s conference attendance will be paid from the athletic budget to meet continuing-education requirements.
No formal motions were made on the vocational program or the safety protocols during the meeting; the items were reported for future consideration.
