To the Hampton Township School Board and Administration:

We, the undersigned parents and community members of the Hampton Township School District, call on the School Board to:

1. Hold a Public Safety Q&A within 45 days (Dec 18) before budget is finalized, to present the district’s plan for meeting or exceeding national safety standards for officer coverage.
2. Ensure each school has a dedicated, trained School Resource Officer (SRO) or equivalent on-site security presence during all instructional hours.
3. Conduct and publish a comprehensive Risk and Vulnerability Assessment that includes officer placement, communication systems, and rapid-response procedures (by a PDE-approved assessor such as Rich Mader who is currently available to begin).
4. Establish a Parent Safety Advisory Committee including parents with law enforcement, military, education, and public safety backgrounds to review and advise on safety plans.

These Call to Actions are based on:

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Federal Data:

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“In 63 incidents where the duration of the incident could be ascertained, 44 (69.8%) ended in 5 minutes or less, with 23 ending in 2 minutes or less.”
— FBI, A Study of Active Shooter Incidents in the United States (2000–2013)

The U.S. Secret Service National Threat Assessment Center (NTAC) found the same for K–12 schools:

“In most of the incidents (83%), the attack ended in five minutes or less. In nearly half (68%), it was over in two minutes or less.”

Even a prompt police response is often too late to prevent casualties.
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Local Reality: Every Minute Counts

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Even under emergency conditions, police response times to Hampton schools range from 2 to 5 minutes upon notification — far longer than the duration of most school attacks.

School Approx. driving distance from Hampton Police Dept via Google Maps:
Hampton High School - 2 minutes
Hampton Middle School - 4 minutes
Central Elementary - 4 minutes
Poff Elementary - 9 minutes
Wyland Elementary - 10 minutes

In every school, an emergency could fully unfold and end before officers ever arrive. Our students’ safety depends entirely on who is already inside the building when a crisis begins.

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HTSD Underperforming vs. Area Districts

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Nearby school districts have already invested in dedicated on-site school resource officers (SROs) for each campus (does not count unarmed security personnel). NASRO recommends 1 officer per building as minimum standard.

According to 2023-24 Pennsylvania Safe Schools data (download here) and or updated by most recent website information (linked):

• North Allegheny - 14 officers for 12 schools
• North Hills - 6 officers for 6 schools
• Fox Chapel - 9 officers for 6 schools
• Seneca Valley - 7 officers for 7 schools
• Deer Lakes - 4 offices, 1 per building
• Pine Richland - 7 officers for 6 schools
• Highlands school district - 3 officers + 1 security guard
• Hampton - 1 officer for 5 school

Even Shaler has 2 resource officers + metal detectors

These neighboring districts have recognized what the data proves:
Response time saves lives. On-site, trained officers are the standard — not the exception.

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Officers Are More Than Responders — They’re Relationship Builders

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School Resource Officers are not just a badge or a barrier. They are mentors, educators, and trusted allies who help prevent crises before they happen.

A consistent officer presence builds the kind of trust-based safety culture that prevents violence before it starts. When officers are part of the daily rhythm of school life, they become first responders in an emergency — and trusted guardians every other day.

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Our Ask

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We are not asking for perfection — we are asking for preparedness, transparency, and presence.
Our community expects and deserves a safety plan that is proactive, relational, and immediate.