Berwick Area SD board approves purchase of eight metal detectors, flags staffing and funding gaps

The Berwick Area School District board moved to approve purchasing eight metal detectors for district buildings, citing a school-safety grant and additional general-fund support.

Board members discussed how the district would staff detectors and operate them at events. Mister Contessa, who presented the procurement proposal, said the district was awarded a school safety and mental health grant of $153,700 and referenced an additional amount that was not specified in the transcript; he told the board the grant would not cover all eight units and that buying all eight would require using general-fund dollars. "I think metal detectors are a positive thing for the district," Contessa said.

Administrators and board members pressed on operational details. Presenters said the district cannot staff more than two staffed entrances per building with current personnel, so some doors would remain unsecured indoors if detectors were used; the presenter said the district has five security officers and would need to shift officers and administrators from outside arrival supervision to inside screening. The board also discussed moving units for football and other events; the quoted price did not include rigid protective cases, and the presenter said he would obtain quotes for hard cases to inform a later decision.

The motion to approve the procurement (as presented) was moved and seconded and a roll-call vote was recorded with affirmative responses from the listed board members. The transcript records each member voting in the affirmative on the record.