Position Description

SUMMARY:

• The Plum Borough School District School Police’s primary responsibility is to assist in providing and fostering a safe learning atmosphere for all stakeholders in the Plum Borough School District.  The Plum School Police will not have arrest powers and will defer all criminal matters to the Plum Borough Police Department. The School Police will engage in the development of proactive strategies to continuously improve safety.  The School Police will also cooperatively work with the Plum Borough School Administration and the Plum Borough Police Department/SRO to ensure the safest possible environment. The Plum School Police shall be ultimately responsible for ensuring the achievement of the highest levels of integrity and performance.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must have at least 5 years of experience working as a police officer with a State, County or Municipal law enforcement agency. Experience in private security or in a campus/educational environment a plus.
• Must have received Act 120 certification or graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy.
• Currently certified, or willing to be certified in ALICE, National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Basic and Advanced SRO coursework.
• Must meet Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (MPOETC) proficiency standards with a District-approved service weapon.
• Current Clearances – Child Abuse (Act 151), FBI (Act 114) and Criminal History (Act 34).
• Ability to communicate effectively and tactfully both verbally and in writing, and be able to complete reports in a timely manner.
• Ability to create and maintain positive relationships with all stakeholders.
• Possess a valid PA Driver’s license and a good driving record and be willing to submit DMV clearance check.
• Ability to attend professional continuing education courses to expand their foundations of knowledge and stay up-to-date on new developments.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Build positive relationships with students and the school community.
• Patrol the entire building throughout the school day.
• Check exterior doors. Exterior/outside doors shall be closed and locked at all times.
• Maintain radio contact with the school office.
• Patrol the outside perimeter of the building.  
• Maintain mobility and visibility throughout the school day.
• Assist teachers with monitoring the corridors during each class change (especially historically noted high traffic areas).
• Assist teachers in preventing congestion and standing in corridors.
• Monitor the cafeteria, gym (sports complex in high school) and classroom areas.
• Inspect and monitor stairwells and open storage areas (before, during, and after school).
• Become familiar with building staff and their routines.
• Monitor and inspect restrooms (ensure students do not congregate).
• Watch for conflicts among or between students.
• Monitor students as they approach and leave the building.  Additional attention shall be given to late arrivals.
• Monitor the lunchroom.
• Monitor students during outdoor activities.
• Assist the administration with door and building monitoring.
• Positively communicate with students; make them feel secure about their safety.
• Gather and record intelligence in a centralized location enabling officers to become more aware of any potential situation that may arise during the course of their duties.
• Share any criminal or potential intelligence information that is gathered and/or obtained with the Plum Borough Police Department.

Confidentiality:

• Respect and maintain the highest degree of confidentiality with regard to personnel and student records, personal communication from members of the community, School Board, and staff.  This policy will be reviewed annually and update training will be provided when necessary.

Language Skills:

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedures manuals.

Computer Skills:

• Demonstrate the ability to use IBM-based or MAC-based personal computers and programs such as Windows, Microsoft Office, spreadsheets, database, if needed.

Mathematical Skills:

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide into all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals.  Must have the ability to compute rate, ratios, and percent.

Reasoning Ability:

• Ability to apply common sense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.  Ability to deal with multiple problems.

Full performance knowledge, skills, abilities and personal characteristics:

• Thorough knowledge of laws, rules, and regulations applicable to a school district and necessary for promoting and maintaining proper conduct, and ensuring the safety of students, staff, and visitors; good knowledge of crisis intervention and conflict resolution techniques; ability to identify illegal drugs and detect signs of use; ability to defuse potentially dangerous situations; ability to follow directions; ability to develop a rapport with students; ability to explain rules and regulations in a way that will be understood and obeyed; tact; good judgment; physical conditions commensurate with the demand of the position.

Physical Demands:

• The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, and climb stairs.  The employee is occasionally required to stoop, kneel, or crouch. The employee occasionally is required to lift and/or push up to 45 lbs. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and depth vision perception.

The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the American with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of the duties performed for this position.  The individual holding this position may perform additional duties and additional duties may be assigned.