Proposal would shift security office to sworn school police, with $250K in startup costs
North Penn School District is considering a major reorganization of its security operations, with officials proposing the creation of a Department of Public Safety staffed by sworn school police officers.
The idea was presented at Monday's Safe Schools Committee meeting by Coordinator of Emergency Management & Safe Schools Brandon Rhone and Superintendent Dr. Todd Bauer and will move to the full board for discussion. The district looks to implement the new department by January 2026.
Administrators outlined a plan to transition five existing security officers into armed school police officers, along with the department director, at an estimated startup cost of about $250,400. That figure covers salary stipends, uniforms, vehicles and equipment.
Ongoing salary adjustments would be built into the district’s budget, though officials said they hope to offset some expenses with state safety grants.
“There are some opportunities through PCCD and BJA grants to help reduce that cost,” said Rhone. “A school police officer is an individual employed by the school district, versus a school resource officer, which is a municipal officer on loan. This model allows us to have consistency in our officers in the building, building relationships and responses.”
Bauer and Rhone argued the move would bring North Penn in line with neighboring districts. Sixteen of Montgomery County’s 22 districts already employ school police, as does the North Montco Technical Career Center, which serves five districts including North Penn, where nearly half the students originate.
They said the model would allow staff who already know students and the community to issue citations, investigate minor incidents on campus, and handle parking lot crashes or thefts without automatically calling in local police.
The proposal comes amid rising costs to maintain legacy security systems and continued police responses to school incidents. Officials said the district recorded 143 calls for service last school year, ranging from medical needs to theft reports, while municipal police conducted more than 500 routine patrol walk-throughs in North Penn schools.
North Penn High School had the most police response incidents at 52.8%, followed by Penndale at 12%, Pennbrook at 10.6%, and Oak Park Elementary School at 5.6%.
If approved by the board, the district would need Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas approval to designate the officers as school police, Rhone said.
Training requirements would mirror those of municipal officers, with additional focus on de-escalation, special education, and mental health. Administrators cautioned that a January 2026 rollout would be aggressive, with spring more likely for full implementation.
Parents raised questions during public comment about liability, staffing sustainability, and the long-term costs to taxpayers.
Some supported the added protection, while others urged caution about placing armed officers in schools.
Board members requested that future presentations include detailed budget impacts, implementation timelines, and exit strategies if the program proves ineffective.
“If this is not successful for us, we would absolutely have an exit strategy. Because these would be current staff members with an additional duty, we retain flexibility,” Bauer said.
Shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday, Bauer and Rhone issued a joint update to families via email:
Dear North Penn Community,
The safety and well-being of your children is always our highest priority. We want to share with you an important topic being discussed at the school board level so you are aware and informed.
At last night’s Safe Schools Committee meeting (which you can watch HERE at roughly the 11:30 mark), a proposal was discussed to reorganize our current Emergency Management and Safe Schools Department to best serve students, staff, and families. One of the elements under consideration is the addition of School Police Officers (SPOs)- trained and armed professionals who would not only help ensure safety on school grounds, but also build positive relationships with students and work in close partnership with staff and local law enforcement. The proposal includes six (6) SPOs with one at each middle school, one at North Penn High School, and two individuals who would have the ability to circulate throughout the district.
These officers would be selected from our current NPSD security staff- familiar faces that our students, staff, and families already know and trust. The individuals selected will also be experienced police officers. In their expanded role as SPOs, they would have the authority to issue citations, enforce Pennsylvania crime and vehicle codes, complete accident reports, conduct investigations, and carry a weapon when on duty. If this model is approved, the individuals selected for the SPO roles would be sworn police officers, employed by the school district, who are required to meet all of the same training and certification standards as our local police officers. Of note, the SPO model exists at North Montco Technical Career Center (NMTCC) and at the other four sending districts (Souderton, Perk Valley, Methacton, Wissahickon).
While the topic is only now being publicly discussed at the school board level, conversations about it have been happening for years with students, staff, and parents. Our local police departments have been an important part of these discussions, and their valued partnership would continue in a way that complements the SPO model, helping us maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students. The six departments that serve our community would continue to have access to our buildings for walkthroughs, assist us on matters that are beyond our capacity, and still participate in programs such as D.A.R.E.
We want to emphasize that these discussions are ongoing, and no final decisions or actions have been made. Our priority remains the same: to foster safe, supportive, and welcoming learning environments for every student and staff member. Any changes would be guided by thorough planning, training, accountability measures, and policies to ensure alignment with North Penn’s mission and values.
This information is being shared so that you are aware of the conversations taking place and the steps being considered. The topic will next be discussed at a future Board of School Directors meeting. There is a lot of work to be done and as these conversations continue, we will keep you informed every step of the way. Thank you for your ongoing partnership and for trusting us with your children- it is a responsibility we hold with the deepest care.
