Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District to add new safety, security measures at high school
Philipsburg-Osceola Area School District will use a $35,000 state grant to install and upgrade safety measures.
During a Wednesday night meeting, the board unanimously approved to use the grant to purchase crash bars for doors, door intercoms and door fob access points. Grant money will also be used to upgrade some of the high school’s metal detectors, Superintendent Daniel Potutschnig said.
“This is part of the dollars that have been put out through the state’s budget for safety and security in school districts,” Potutschnig told the CDT. “We’ve been approved and so now we’re trying to get those those changes and upgrades implemented.”
The district currently has six metal detectors, three at the middle school and three at the high school. Administrative assistant Kelly Rees said the goal is to eventually have metal detectors in all district buildings, not just the middle and high schools.
“The students enter through the metal detectors daily,” Rees said. “The use of metal mesh or clear backpacks have been implemented too.”
The safety upgrades will also allow for door fob access points at several high school doors, limiting the use of keys for staff.
“Where traditionally we would have to use keys and designate keys to staff, we’re trying to switch over doors as we get money that is available, so that we can just offer our fob access,” Potutschnig said.
