MIFFLINTOWN — The topic of school policing remains difficult and contested – from viral videos of students gone wild, to a surge in violence that’s causing many districts to consider adding more resource officers in schools, to perennial fears about school shootings.

A state mandate now requires every school district to have a full-time resource office on staff. While neighboring school districts, such as Mifflin County have had resource officers in place for years with grant funding, Juniata County is starting the process and plans to fund the resource officer using grants.

A post on the district website, dated Oct. 10, stated, “the Juniata County School District is seeking proposals from qualified security service providers to supply one full-time armed resource officer for Juniata County schools within our district.”

It continued, “The goal is to enhance the safety and security of our students, staff and visitors.”

“I have had a few responses,” Juniata County School District Superintendent of Schools Christie Holderman explained. “It will start as soon as we can identify the company.”

Mifflin County’s resource officers serve with the Mifflin County Regional and Lewistown Borough police departments.

With 2,500 students in elementary, middle and high schools, the district has experienced increasing concerns regarding student safety, prompted by national trends of school violence and incidents in nearby districts.

While the district has not faced any major security breaches, instances of bullying, threats and mental health crises among students have underscored the need for enhanced security measures.

In June 2023, Juniata County experienced the shooting of two Pennsylvania State Police troopers – one fatal – by an armed individual. Additionally, community feedback has highlighted a desire for increased vigilance and presence within schools to ensure a safe learning environment, Holderman said.

These factors have led the district to seek the implementation of armed security personnel to provide a proactive approach to school safety, reassure students and parents and foster a secure educational atmosphere.

The resource officer would work on-site in all of the buildings during school hours, from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as during extracurricular activities.

Nearly all resource offices are armed – about 91 percent, according to federal data – and most carry other restraints, like handcuffs.

The main difference separating a resource officer from other police officers is that they have some special training on how to work with youths. As for daily duties, the National Association of School Resource Officers, or NASRO, indicates officers play a crucial role in law enforcement, informal mentoring and counseling and in-person teaching.

Recent federal data shows that about 45 percent of schools had a resource officer in place at least once a week. Another 13 percent of schools reported hiring police who were not resource officers. As this data suggests, a resource officer might not be stationed at just one school; as is the case in Mifflin County, officers are responsible for several schools.

Holderman said the deadline for receiving proposals is Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024.