BY TOM FONTANA

Wyoming County Press Examiner

Lackawanna Trail School District will host a mock ‘shooter’ drill at the high school, planned for August 27, the day before school starts.

Eugene J. Dziak, director of the Wyoming County Emergency Management Agency, described the training session at the board’s Monday meeting.

“This will be an active shooter drill for faculty and staff,” Dziak explained, “to train district personnel what they should do long before a situation like Sandy Hook might occur.”

He said a team of law enforcement officials will include representatives from the state police and the county will answer a call from the school as if a ‘shooter’ was in the building.  Both high and elementary school staff will participate in the drill.

“The drill will test the vulnerabilities in the security system,” he added.  “Trail has a great safety and security plan, but it needs to be active and flowing.  We know what to do when there is the threat of a suspicious package or tornado, but shooters are unpredictable.”

Dziak stated that the drill will stress the “run/hide/fight” options in a situation when the school and its occupants are threatened by a gun attack.

“The training will be very realistic,” he said.  “Paint bullets will be used to simulate what real bullets sound like.

Wyoming County commissioner Thomas Henry attended the board meeting with Dziak, and assured the district that it has the support of the county in its safety and security efforts.

In other business, several personnel changes were conducted, especially concerning sports.

The resignation of head track coach Mark Petrewski was accepted, and assistant track coach Mike Petherick resigned to be appointed head track coach at a stipend of $4,800.  James Becchetti was approved as the new assistant track coach at a stipend of $2,325.

Matt Seitzinger was accepted as assistant baseball coach at $3,450, and John Richter was approved assistant softball coach at $3,450.

The board appointed Michelle Getts to the secondary counselor position at a salary of $63,000 for 2013-14..

Filling of the librarian/technology position was tabled until March.

Board president Mark Lombardi said the board was considering “three excellent candidates.”

“We have every intention of filling the position,” he said, “but the board was torn because of the high qualifications of the candidates, so wants to review them again before making a decision.”

The board approved the request of superintendent Matthew Rakauskus to set the fee for athletic facility advertising signs at $100 for the remainder of the school year and for 2013-14.

Junior Logan Garrison, a member of the school’s ski club, presented the board with a thank-you note and photo of club members who participated in the recent ski trip to Vermont.