Burrell School District considers new internal communication system for emergencies, drills
Burrell School District officials are eyeing improvements to the district’s internal communication system for emergencies.
The school board is considering a service agreement with Emergent 3 for technology software to handle internal communications among district staff during emergencies or drills.
The contract would be for a three-year term. The first year would cost the district $7,000 — $3,000 to install and $4,000 for use. The following two years would cost $4,000 each, Superintendent Shannon Wagner said Tuesday, at the board’s agenda meeting.
The software would offer live communication, district mapping, status updates and protocols during an emergency, said Carla Roland, the district’s safety and security coordinator and an assistant principal at Burrell High School.
Currently, district staff use a paper pamphlet for notifications and protocols during emergencies and drills. Communication is over a PA loudspeaker in district buildings.
“My main concern is internal communication. It is an area of weakness as a district. … I would prefer to move forward and not give people a pamphlet in order to be able to communicate with them,” Roland said.
The software would be accessible to staff either on their phones or computers. It would complement the district’s panic buttons and security cameras.
Roland said the software provides immediate communication and “eliminates steps in the middle.”
Wagner recommends the board approve the software agreement at its regular meeting Tuesday, Aug. 20.
“We believe it will improve communication during an emergency,” she said.
Hirings
The board also hired five new teachers, two cooks and an athletic trainer for the upcoming year.
Maura Very was hired as a math teacher at the middle school at a salary of $58,958; Megan Malits as a math teacher at the high school, $47,669; Asti Brestensky, intensive support teacher, $47,669; Lori Christie, fourth grade teacher, $48,923; and Chelsey Kriley, special education teacher at the high school, $57,286.
Ken Bowman was hired as a cook at the high school at $19 an hour, and Jennifer Quinn was hired as a cook at Stewart at $18.50 an hour.
Nathan Sroka was named the district’s athletic trainer and will be paid $60,000.
Kellen Stepler is a TribLive reporter covering the Allegheny Valley and Burrell school districts and surrounding areas. He joined the Trib in April 2023. He can be reached at kstepler@triblive.com.
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