Southeast Delco superintendent recommends one‑year renewal of Safe Corridors security contract amid cost questions

Dr. Ryan, the superintendent, urged the Southeast Delco School District board to approve a one‑year renewal of the Safe Corridors security contract while administration evaluates the program’s effectiveness and the feasibility of in‑house alternatives.

The proposal covers roughly 18 officers for the coming school year at a cost Dr. Ryan described as "$587,510," a figure he said administration used in its planning. He told board members the administration surveyed school staff and received largely positive responses about the program but acknowledged some concerns about execution and individual behavior issues.

Why it matters: the contract is among the largest single operating expenditures on the committee’s agenda and has direct implications for staff allocations, student supervision in hallways and bathrooms, and the district’s operating budget. Board members pressed for clearer cost comparisons and operational metrics before making a longer‑term commitment.

Administration outlined three options: renew the vendor contract for one year while working with Safe Corridors on performance, transition responsibilities in‑house by hiring district employees (which administration estimated could look "a little less than $500,000" before employer contributions and therefore approach the vendor total when fully loaded), or eliminate the program entirely (an option Dr. Ryan said he did not recommend because of risks to day‑to‑day operations).

Board members asked for more detailed cost breakdowns and performance data. Dr. Ryan provided a rough cost split that showed a high‑school‑only deployment would be about $351,000, with the K–8 portion representing the remaining roughly $236,000, though he cautioned the arithmetic does not capture administrative fees and employer taxes that affect final comparisons. Members raised the risk that phasing out a vendor too quickly could reduce vendor responsiveness and noted the tight local labor market for $20/hour positions such as bus monitors and aides.

Mr. McGowan, reporting from the finance committee, said the committee would take no formal position until the full board could review the detailed budget implications and the administration’s follow‑up analysis. The committee flagged the item as requiring a full‑board decision given its fiscal impact.

What’s next: administration will return with more complete cost comparisons, staffing implications and performance metrics to inform a full‑board decision at a later meeting.