Voters Approve Safety and Security Funds for Orchard Park Schools

Voters Approve Safety and Security Funds for Orchard Park Schools

Campuses in Orchard Park will be getting upgrades to safety and security that include increased security at all six main entrances at Orchard Park Schools.

  • By Jessica Davis
  • November 20, 2018

Voters in Orchard Park, N.Y., approved a $12.2 million proposal for campus safety and security funds during a special election held on Election Day.

Campuses in Orchard Park will be getting upgrades to safety and security that include increased security at all six main entrances at Orchard Park Schools. Before entering a building, visitors will have to enter a sectioned-off room for a security screening process, after which they would be allowed on campus.

The district will use $1.5 million from its capital reserves, but seventy percent of the project will be funded by the state.

"We have some other debt coming out of our budget, debt being paid off so it will be level debt, level taxes. We just want to make sure we're improving the security as much as we can for our kids and the staff," said Jeffrey Petrus, Assistant Superintend for business, Orchard Park School District.

Some voters told a local news station that the district was spending too much on upgrades, but other voters with children in the school district said the schools needed to improve security.

"Anything in this day and age that can secure the schools and keep the student's safe, I'm all for it. It's really hard to put a cost on human life, especially our kids’ lives," said Joy Higgins, Orchard Park parent.

The project also includes replacing the roofs on the middle and elementary school buildings.

About the Author

Jessica Davis is the Associate Content Editor for 1105 Media.

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