Safety presentation given to Ellwood City Area School District
ELLWOOD CITY – The Ellwood City Police Department conducted a safety presentation for the Ellwood City Area School Board last Thursday.
The purpose of the presentation was to have the department go over its safety plans in case an emergency were to happen, such as a fire or an active shooter.
The department also donated a gun that fires “less than lethal” bean bag rounds, to the district’s private police force, to be used in case of an emergency.
District Superintendent Wesley Shipley said on Sept. 2, all district staff and administration will participate in a security training event.
He said students will be off from school that day due to a teacher in-service day.
Shipley said all school buildings will be locked to the public for the training, and he wanted the public to note the training will involve different police officers and vehicles coming and going, so no one is confused or concerned.
In case of a real emergency, he advised families to not interfere with the removal of students from buildings by staff, stating families will be notified by the district of the status of the students and where to pick them up from.
Shipley also noted that this year will be a strategic planning year for the district, where a committee, comprised of himself, different staff, school board members and community members, will come together to create a new district strategic plan.
He said an Ellwood City Excellence Project will be created to highlight a different theme for the district each year, with this year’s theme being the “climate and culture” in the district.
This article originally appeared on Ellwood City Ledger: Ellwood schools given non-lethal gun for emergencies
