MANDATA - Line Mountain Junior-Senior High School Principal Jeffrey Roadcap was granted permission from the school board Tuesday night to move forward with a first response box for every classroom in the event of school shooting or other emergency.
Roadcap presented a 16-inch by 16-inch by 7-inch red metal box, created by construction technology instructor Jared Haas and nine of his students.
The box will be equipped with emergency supplies, including bandages, gauze, burn relief cream, sanitizer, ice packs, CPR kits and 50 other medical materials, as suggested by the school nurse.
"We felt we needed a secure box to put emergency supplies in that you would use in a crisis. It's structurally sound and large enough to contain these materials," Roadcap said.
Haas said there were several different designs considered, but the class ultimately decided on a lid that lifts up and two latches that lock.
These homemade boxes cost $25 per unit. Approximately 70 classrooms in the high school building will each receive a unit; it will be determined at a later date if classrooms at the elementary school in Trevorton will receive them.
Superintendent Dave Campbell said they are considering including pepper spray, retractable batons and other self-defense mechanisms in the box, but he said no guns would be placed.
"We hope this is something we never have to open," Roadcap said.
He said he is considering adding springs to keep the lid open, painting the boxes orange instead of red and consulting teachers for further suggestions.
No board members objected to Roadcap and Haas moving forward with the project.
The board also passed nearly $15,000 of new purchases related to security upgrades.
Six additional cameras at a cost of $12,900 and one additional keyless entry for $1,900 were purchased for the Trevorton Elementary School through NRG Controls North Inc., Selinsgrove.
Tim Lagerman, director of plant operations, presented a report to the board in reference to the prices for changing the names of the district buildings for the 2013-14 school year.
The plan is to have three signs: Line Mountain Elementary School in Trevorton and Line Mountain Middle School and Line Mountain High School in Mandata.
Depending on the type of sign the board approves, the cost will be between $4,000 to $20,000. The style of sign could range from a simple wooden design to an electronic sign with digital messages.
Director Lawrence Neiding said it's too costly to purchase signs that digitally announce events and it might present the district in a bad light.
"The most unpardonable thing is having a message that's out of date. That's embarrassing," he said.
Campbell said it would be preference to have a well-constructed sign that would require little maintenance.
In other business:
- Campbell announced the quotes for bids of the geothermal project at the high school would be available by the next board meeting.
- The board approved $32,825 in purchases for technology upgrades.
