District official, state cops plan security assessment Tuesday, August 14, 2007 • By ANDREA EILENBERGER • The Express-Times PHILLIPSBURG | Phillipsburg School District Security Director Bill Merrick is embarking on a security assessment in coordination with New Jersey State Police and Warren County authorities. Merrick said Monday he met with the state police to discuss the project, which will include a districtwide evaluation of facilities, response policies and other crisis-management measures. They'll tour each campus, inspect lighting and video surveillance systems and review rapid response procedures, among other things. "Of course, the big issue is the 31 trailers at the high school," Merrick said. The district is already planning to erect a substation for district security at the high school near the trailers. There is also a substation town police officers use at the high school. There are a total of 12 district security officers. Almost all of them are former law enforcement authorities and some are former state police officers, Merrick said. Superintendent Gordon Pethick has supported the idea of a security audit and previously raised the idea of hiring an outside firm to do that work. That won't be necessary since the assessment is getting under way, he said. It does not come with a price tag, Merrick said. Merrick expects to have a full analysis and report to present to the board around the start of the school year. The county prosecutor's office and town police will also be involved, he said. Reporter Andrea Eilenberger can be reached at 610-258-7171 or by e-mail at aeilenberger@express-times.com.