Though the Tamaqua Area School Board showed no sign of relenting on its planned implementation of Policy 705, which would allow staff to be armed, there were clear signs that last week’s special meeting had an impact on the board’s plans for securing schools and protecting students and staff.

Superintendent Ray Kinder reported that the administration and members of the board’s security committee have been evaluating information presented by the parent group, loosely affiliated as Tamaqua Citizens for Safe Schools.

Kinder said members of the board’s security committee and administration attended a webinar on an acoustic gunshot detection system, one of the technology options offered by Lisa Behr, one of the parent group’s presenters last week.

Kinder said administrators will be scheduling a vendor visit to the schools. He also reported that the district will be looking at redeploying its metal detectors and using them “on a more regular basis.”

He indicated that he and the board will keep the public updated at subsequent meetings as to the progress the board and administration is making on the school security issue.

Board member Bryan Miller asked about drug-testing staff members who volunteer to be armed, noting that it isn’t specifically addressed in the policy.

Security Committee member Nicholas Boyle answered, “That’s all part of Act 235. You get the drug and alcohol screening and the psychological examination. It’s not spelled out in the policy, but that’s what Act 235 is.”

The board will meet Nov 20 for its regular monthly meeting at the Tamaqua Area Middle School.