North Hills Schools Review Safety, Security Measures

OSS TOWNSHIP, PA - In the wake of last month’s latest school shooting in Parkland, Florida that left 19 people dead, North Hills School District Superintendent Patrick Mannarino shared some district security procedures designed to thwart a similar massacre here.

In a message to district families, Mannarino said that while he could not disclose all measures the district takes, “Safety and security have always been, and will continue to be, the highest priority for our district.”

Here’s what Mannarino did disclose:

• All entrances to buildings are locked during school hours, even if students are outside for recess or a classroom activity.

• All visitors must report to a building's main entrance where district staff electronically unlocks the door to grant access to the building.

• To obtain a visitor badge, a visitor must present photo identification that is scanned through our visitor management system. Visitors are closely monitored and not permitted to wander throughout the building without appropriate supervision. They must sign out of the school at the end of their visit in the main office.

• Most buildings utilize a "capture entrance" system before allowing a visitor into the main office. We are working with architects and designers to construct "capture entrances" at facilities that do not currently have this entry system.

• A wide network of cameras capture activity inside and outside of our buildings and throughout our campuses.

• District security officers patrol our buildings during school hours.

• Both district-level and building-level safety teams meet monthly to discuss safety and security measures including cameras, drills, police and emergency services communications, student and staff concerns and services and supports for students.

• Intervention and support techniques from our school counseling team including new student mentoring, student assistance programs and individual and group counseling among many other efforts.

• All staff members, including those working in the building as substitutes, are required to wear photo identification badges at all times.

• Several staff members in each building carry portable radios throughout the school day in case of an emergency situation.

• The Ross and West View police departments regularly make unannounced visits and patrols to our school campuses and buildings.

In addition to reviewing the security measures, Mannarino urged the community to carefully consider the content of social media messages before posting them.

“Rumors as well as inaccurate and false social media posts compromise the safety and security of our students and staff by speculating on the district's security protocols and procedures and perceived security flaws,” he said.

He also noted the district offers a non-emergency safety tip hotline at 412-318-1111. Police should be alerted to urgent or time-sensitive matters with a 911 call.

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