Former Police Chief Hired As Centennial's Security Supervisor

WARMINSTER, PA —The Centennial School District has taken measures to protect its schools by hiring a former police chief to serve as supervisor of school security and safety.

The school board, in a 9-0 unanimous vote at its meeting Tuesday night, approved the hiring of John Ward —who has served as police chief for the Stroud Area Regional Police, Ridgewood Police Department —as the district's school police officer position.

The hiring is a new post for the school district, which has not had a school police officer, school resource officer, or school security guards at its schools, Schools Superintendent Dana Bedden said.

Ward is credentialed as a school police officer who could be armed and has arresting powers and NASRO training.

Ward will develop and oversee districtwide centralized safety and security plans, Bedden said.

"Addressing school safety and security in a manner that is more proactive and not just reactive requires a dedicated and knowledgeable person," Bedden said. "We can’t treat safety and security as a decentralized model, giving pieces of the responsibility to others as just a secondary job responsibility. In order to do better and be better, we must have dedicated staff and resources."

A start date and Ward's salary were not provided by the school district.

He said the selection process included more than 100 applicants and two rounds of interviews of selected candidates. The final round of interviews included leadership representation from Warminster and Southampton Police Departments on the interview panel, Bedden said.

Bedden said the administration has worked with the school board since the start of the 2022/2023 school year to develop and approve new job descriptions for officers, guards, and revised secondary security monitor and elementary security monitor.

"We have also developed staffing plans as we transition from a decentralized model to a centralized model, with security staff reporting to the newly created position of Supervisor of Safety and Security," he said.

In Ward's role, he will:

• Serve as the Act 44 Safety and Security Coordinator, for the District
• Supervise school security personnel including: managing, training, compliance and staffing
• Manage 3rd party safety and security contracts
• Manage Fire and Security Planning (planning, drills, etc.)
• Coordinate training (staff, teachers & substitutes)
• Build relationships with local Police and First Responders
• Monitor along with School Administrators' Safe2Say and Gaggle activity
• Maintain up-to-date security equipment and plans across the District
• Oversee safety and security for school day and extracurricular activities.

"Mr. Ward’s resume shows a wealth of knowledge and experience," Bedden said. "We are excited and hopeful that those prior experiences will provide us with the leadership necessary to have the best possible proactive approach to having a safe and secure environment as possible.

Ward's credentials and education include:

• Retired Chief of Police (Former Chief of Police: Stroud Area Regional Police, Ridgewood Police Department.
• Four years experience in Monroe District Attorney's Office —Criminal Investigations Division.
• Experienced educator/trainer with more than 15 years of college/university-level.
• Assistant Professor/Coordinator of Criminal Justice, Cyber Security and Fire Sciences Programs Sussex County Community College.
• 34 years of experience in personnel development, instructional design, and course/training assessment for law enforcement, security, public safety, risk management, crisis/emergency management, higher education, and private and public sector stakeholders.

His education includes:

• Graduate Certificate –School Safety and Security Administration 2020 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
• Graduate Certificate – Emergency Management Administration 2019-Present Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ (Anticipated completion Spring 2023)
• Graduate Certificate – Global Leadership Administration 2008 Fairleigh Dickinson University Teaneck, NJ
• Master of Administrative Sciences (Public Admin & Leadership) 2009 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
• Graduate Certificate - Administration Law & Public Safety 2008 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
• Bachelor – Administration of Law & Public Safety 2007 Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
• Certificated Public Manager 2003 Fairleigh Dickinson University/NJ Department of Personnel, Teaneck, NJ
• Numerous Professional Leadership Certificates, including FBI - LEEDA Mid-Atlantic Law Executive Development, FBI - Command Institute, NJSACOP- West Point Command & Leadership Program (instructor), NJSACOP - Police Executive Institute, NJSACOP- Accredited Chief Executive Officer (ACE) –Advanced, IACP- Leading Through Legacy.