Mars Area School Board unanimously approved a one-year agreement between Mars Area School District and Adams Township for the creation of a hybrid school police force.

“The Board’s goal for the beginning of next school year is to have an armed police officer in every school,” said Dayle Ferguson, Board president. “We have come to the conclusion that this is a necessary and important investment. The goal here is safety. The goal here is protection.”

 As per the agreement, the school police force would consist of two (2) Adams Township Police officers, who would be employed by Adams Township, but permanently assigned (during the school year) to protect the District’s schools. The District would supplement those full-time officers with three (3) additional “school police officers;” and, seek approval from Butler County Court of Common Pleas to establish a school police force, as permitted under Act 44 of 2018.

Under the agreement, the District would pay $75,000 per Adams Township Police Officer (a total of $150,000 for two officers); and, the Township would also provide additional officers for traffic services during peak hours at no added cost to the District. Under its current agreement with the township, the District pays $107,965 for one (1) police officer, who is assigned to patrol the District and its schools each day, as well as an additional $39,960 for traffic control.

The start-up costs associated with the agreement are included in the District’s 2019-2020 General Fund Budget, said Ferguson. Adams Township Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the agreement at an upcoming May meeting.

“We will be working work collaboratively to create a team that will keep our staff and our student safe.”

 For more information, call (724) 625-1518.