News Details

During its December 10 meeting, the Rondout Valley Central School District Board of Education approved adding a second School Resource Officer (SRO) through the Ulster County Sheriff's Office and hiring two armed security guards through Atlas Security, Inc. This will allow a SRO to be assigned to both the High School and the Junior High/Intermediate School, and will provide each of our Elementary Schools with an armed security guard. 

The decision to add armed security was not made without considerable thought, discussion, and research. The topic of increased security in our buildings has been publicly discussed during Board meetings since August. In November, Atlas Security gave a detailed presentation about their services. 

The following are some additional details that may be of interest to our school community: 

Why do we need to use a security company?  

The District would prefer a SRO at each building, however the Ulster County Sheriff's Office does not currently have the staffing levels needed for this model. If additional SROs are available at a later date, the District may revisit this option. 

Who will provide the security services? 

Atlas Security Services, Inc. is a licensed and bonded company with 32 years of providing professional security officers. The company is based in Goshen and currently serves 15 school districts, including two that are neighboring.  

What qualifications does Atlas Security have? 

The company complies with the Safe Schools Against Violence in Education (SAVE) Act, including background checks, fingerprinting, and the completion of all required State-mandated courses for providing services to students. Prior to working in schools, Atlas guards must be cleared for employment by the New York State Education Department. Specific required training includes: 

• A certified weapons course and supplemental training on suspicious packages, response to active shooter incidents, and enhanced terrorism awareness and response.
• State-mandated sexual harassment training, CPR, First Aid, and AED training. 
• Regular in-service training on de-escalation strategies, conflict resolution, and management of disruptive behavior.
• Participation in District training, including our Behavioral Threat Assessment (BTA) program. 
• Additional training in collaboration with Ulster County Sheriff’s Office, including a three day C-PASS School Safety Conference. 

What specific responsibilities will Atlas guards be assigned?

Security guards will assist with a range of school day responsibilities, as well as be available for added support at special events on evenings and weekends. Specific responsibilities include:

• Assisting with arrival and dismissal traffic 
• Assisting with supervision in hallways/recess/lunch periods
• Securing entrances and exits
• Monitoring cameras
• Firewatch
• Assisting with building evacuations
• CPR/First-Aid services
• Patrolling school buildings and grounds
• Lending an overall sense of security through actions and presence

Our community is built on a foundation of mutual respect and shared commitment to the well being of our students and staff. We understand that opinions on the use of armed security in our schools vary widely based on individual experiences, values, and concerns. Please be assured that the safety and educational experience of our students is at the forefront of this decision, and we are committed to keeping the community informed throughout implementation. 

On behalf of myself and the Board of Education, I would like to thank you for the trust that you place in us to keep our schools safe. 

Sincerely, 

Paul M. Spadaro, Ph.D.
Superintendent of Schools