Council members on Nov. 5 discussed a request from parents of students at a local nonpublic (parochial) school for police presence during school hours. Parents had offered to fund a part‑time officer at the school; council members and police told the meeting they would not finalize an agreement until legal compliance and staffing details are resolved.

Police Chief Yarns told council that the school and parents sought some form of law‑enforcement presence and were willing to accept part‑time coverage initially. The chief said officers with appropriate certifications had applied and that part‑time candidates could be considered while staffing is finalized. Chief Yarns described a “piecemeal” approach — starting with limited shifts and adjusting as needed — to avoid compromising the department’s other shift staffing.

Solicitor Drew advised that an armed officer stationed in a nonpublic school may qualify as a school resource officer (SRO) under state guidance and that additional legal steps might be required. Specifically, Drew said the borough would need to petition the Court of Common Pleas and secure concurrence from the district attorney’s office to ensure the borough, school and police department are covered before placing an armed officer inside a nonpublic school. He recommended against executing any agreement until those steps and related liability issues are resolved.

Council members and the chief discussed training and certification: part‑time officers may need additional certified training (for example a multi‑hour course or state‑required SRO curriculum) before serving in the school, and the borough would need time to schedule interviews and hire a qualified candidate if needed. The chief said one female officer with prior SRO experience had applied and could be interviewed by the personnel committee.

Multiple speakers noted parents had expressed heightened concern about national school violence incidents and that parents were willing to raise funds to pay for a part‑time officer at roughly $30 per hour. Council agreed to keep the status quo (no signed agreement) and to readdress the matter in December or January after obtaining legal guidance and confirming staffing and training options.

Discussion points, clarifications and next steps recorded at the meeting:
• Parents and the diocese (parish leadership) expressed concern about school safety and have offered to fund part‑time officer coverage; the hourly funding offer was reported as $30 per hour. (Public comment and chief’s report.)
• The police chief emphasized staffing constraints and recommended starting with limited shifts rather than committing to a full‑time SRO immediately.
• The solicitor advised petitioning the Court of Common Pleas and obtaining the district attorney’s concurrence for an armed officer in a nonpublic school to protect the borough and department from liability.
• Council directed staff to withhold signing any SRO agreement until legal compliance, staffing, and training issues are clarified; the council plans to revisit the topic in late December or January.

No formal motion to place an officer was approved at the Nov. 5 meeting; council members described the item as a work in progress pending legal review and confirmed they would proceed cautiously.