School Police Officer - 12 month position

Position Title: School Police Officer - 12 month position

Classification: RSSSA

Position Range: Range 4

Reports To: Director of Safe Schools

Position Goal: To ensure a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for all students and staff by enforcing good order in school buildings, District-provided transportation, and on school grounds throughout the Reading School District; appropriately exercising all lawfully-authorized powers, including the powers to cite and/or detain; and developing and maintaining positive relationships with students and their families through mentoring and respectful, courteous interactions.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES: Other duties may be assigned. The essential duties of this position include, but are not limited to the following fundamental duties, and may be modified from time to time

• Exercises lawfully-authorized powers to investigate violations of the Code of Student of Conduct, Crimes Code, and other applicable laws, and to cite, detain, and/or refer for additional investigation and/or prosecution individuals for violations thereof in conformity with federal, state, and local law as well as District policies and procedures.
• At no time shall any SPO engage in the discipline of a student or act in the capacity as a substitute teacher.
• Conducts investigations, as assigned, to include the identification of participants, the collection of physical and/or testimonial evidence, preparation of witness lists, and maintenance of appropriate records.
• Actively participates in all phases of the prosecution of authorized offenses through disposition.
• Refers appropriate criminal matters to local law enforcement for investigation and/or prosecution.
• Lawfully intervenes, de-escalates, and establishes/maintains control of individuals involved in dangerous and/or potentially criminal behavior pending further authorized action by district personnel or local law enforcement.
• Patrols all Reading School District properties and immediate areas to identify physical conditions that pose a risk to the health, safety, or welfare of staff and/or students and notifies the appropriate administrator or authorities to address the conditions.
• This function includes patrol by foot and/or vehicle before, during, and after the school day as well as when the District is closed for inclement weather.
• Reports to the Building Principal and Facilities Department or Director of Safe Schools, as appropriate, all physical safety and maintenance concerns that pose a threat to the health, safety, or welfare or students and/or staff, including broken facilities, unlocked windows and doors, unmonitored hallways, etc.
• Plans and delivers regular professional development, as assigned, to professional and support staff, on relevant topics, including bullying, hazing, vaping, juvenile justice, gang activity, drug and substance abuse, situational awareness, threat assessment, and crisis response, and other phenomena that impact the health, safety, and welfare of students and staff.
• Plans and delivers regular professional development, as assigned, within the Safe Schools Department, monitors attendance at the professional development, collects feedback from the professional development, and monitors any expectations following the professional development in conjunction with the Director and Lead Officer.
• Plans and delivers, under the supervision and direction of a certificated professional, age-appropriate lessons to District students on issues that impact their health, safety, and welfare, as assigned, and/or upon request.
• This shall include both formal lessons in the classroom setting and informal opportunities to connect with students and families.
• Participates in parent engagement activities with coordination with building administration, as assigned.
• Attends mandated in-service trainings approved by the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission (“MPOETC”).
• Attends meetings with local law enforcement agencies and other first responders, upon invitation or by assignment, to keep apprised of local trends that impact the health, safety, and welfare of students and staff, including alcohol and substance use, gang activity, and crisis response.
• Acts as a District liaison to local law enforcement agencies, as assigned.
• Assists building administrators to design and implement safety plans to protect students and/or staff following critical incidents.
• Assists the Safe Schools Director with the development and implementation of policies and procedures for the Safe Schools Department, including best practices for dealing with potential threats in the school, safety drills, breaking up fights, and de-escalation techniques.
• In conjunction with the Safe Schools Director, coordinates efforts to obtain funding through Safe Schools Initiative Grants.
• Assists in the preparation and management of the Department budget.
• Monitors the District-wide video surveillance system when needed for investigative purposes.
• Attends court as required and participates as a prosecuting officer and/or witness.
• Supports and assists building administrators, as requested, during parent/guardian meetings, discipline/discharge meetings, and Board of School Directors meetings.
• Assists in monitoring student arrival, departures, lunches, and assemblies or any other event assigned by the Director of Safe Schools.
• Maintains accurate and reliable records and provides the same to the Director and building administration.
• In the absence of the Lead Security Officer, assign SSO posts and/or SSO overtime, as needed.
• Participates in the planning, conduct of, and after-action evaluation of emergency drills.
• Maintains alertness to illegal substances or weapons being carried or stored on school property.
• Supports building administration, staff, and SSO’s in de-escalation strategies and mediations, as needed.
• Assists building administration and supervises and coordinates safe schools personnel during active emergency events or other formal responses to an incident, including random search details and actions pursuant to the standard response protocol.
• Provides guidance to safe school officers upon request.
• Conducts site surveys for off school events, addressing overall safety concerns. Implementing strategies and protocols to follow during the event.
• Responds to all district buildings for parking complaints, following district protocol for first offenders and subsequent offenses by contacting Reading Parking Authority and or Reading Police Department for immediate action.
• Conducts physical searches of students and their property with lawful justification.
• Maintains positive relationships with students and their families through informal mentoring and maintaining courteous and respectful interactions at all times.
• Performs other duties as assigned by the Superintendent or his/her designee.
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES: Supervises security staff as assigned and assumes delegated supervisory responsibilities of any other staff, as assigned, during emergency or crisis situations, such as authorized searches, emergency drills (or actual emergency exits), and during the Standard Response Protocols, as warranted and authorized.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty listed above satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

EDUCATION And/or EXPERIENCE

• High School graduate or GED required. Associates Degree or higher preferred.
• At least three (3) years of professional work in the field of criminal justice required, with a preference for work in urban and/or educational settings preferred.
• Demonstrated professional experience in , juvenile justice, alcohol and substance abuse, adolescent mental health, and other phenomena that impact the health, safety, and welfare of minors.
• Coaching, mentoring, and/or volunteer work with minors preferred.
  
  

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

• Valid Pennsylvania operator’s license.
• Successful completion of basic training as required by the Municipal Police Officers Education and Training Commission under 53 Pa.C.S. Ch. 21 Subch. D (relating to municipal police education and training) or have graduated from the Pennsylvania State Police Academy, been employed as a State trooper with the Pennsylvania State Police, and separated from that service in good standing.
• Successful completion of (or ability to attend and successfully complete) the Basic School Resource Officer Course of Instruction offered by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) or an equivalent course of instruction approved by Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency.
• Obtain and maintain (or ability to obtain and maintain) a School Police Officer designation from the Court of Common Pleas.
• Successful completion of (or ability to attend and successfully complete and maintain) CPR, First Aide, and AED certifications
• Successful completion of (or ability to attend and successfully complete and maintain) Safety Care certifications or other District-approved program regarding safe and therapeutic interactions between school staff and students.
  
  

Language Skills

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as criminal statutes and procedures, safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, technical and procedure manuals.
• Ability to write reports, and procedure manuals.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of administrators, managers, employees, clients, customers, and/or general public.
• Ability to speak clearly and distinctly.
• Bi-lingual in English and Spanish preferred.
  
  

Mathematical Skills

• Ability to add and subtract two digit numbers and to multiply and divide with 10’s and 100’s.
• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions and decimals.
  
  

Reasoning Ability

• Ability to work in an environment with frequent interruptions.
• Ability to work as a member of a team.
• Ability to follow written and verbal directions and give directions to others.
• Ability to create and delegate assignments.
• Ability to complete assigned tasks with minimal supervision.
• Ability to use good judgment and make work-related decisions.
  
  

OTHER SKILLS And ABILITIES

• Ability to operate a computer and related software.
• Ability to organize a schedule in order to efficiently accomplish tasks.
• Auditory acuity to be able to use telephone and greet visitors.
• Must be courteous and able to effectively manage people.
• Must be cooperative, congenial and service-oriented, and promote these qualities in the department.
  
  

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand, walk, and sit. Frequent bending, stooping and twisting is required. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and continuously will repeat the same hand, arm or finger motion many times or keyboard use/data entry. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 15-30 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and depth perception.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet but may be moderate to loud at times. The employee is frequently required to interact with staff during the normal workday. Position demands meeting deadlines and the ability to work additional time in order to meet reporting deadlines. The employee will work inside the office/school building as well as outside; sometimes in uncomfortably warm, cold or inclement weather.

Terms Of Employment

12 month, non-exempt position.

EVALUATION: The employee will be formally evaluated annually with regard to his/her duties with the provisions of Board Policy and in accordance with the provisions of the Act 93 - RSSSA agreement.

The position holder must be able to perform the essential job functions with or without reasonable accommodation. It is the responsibility of the employee to inform the school district administrator designated as immediate supervisor of the position, of any and all reasonable accommodations that will be required. The information contained in this job description is for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (A.D.A.) and is not an exhaustive list of duties performed for this position. Additional duties are performed by the individuals currently holding this position and additional duties may be assigned.

The Reading School District is an equal opportunity employment, educational and service organization.

JD – School Police Officer