Provided photo: Police seized a shotgun, cocaine, marijuana, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia after a search of an Albion apartment.

ALBION – Two Albion residents have been charged today after an investigation into the sale and distribution of crack cocaine and powder cocaine in the Village of Albion, the Orleans County Major Felony Crime Task Force reported.

The Task Force was joined by the Albion Police Department and the Orleans County Multi-Agency SWAT team in executing a search warrant at 107 East Bank St., Apt. 2.

Police seized over 2 ounces of cocaine, 12 grams of marijuana, $900 in cash, a tactical 12 gauge shotgun, scales, packaging and other drug paraphernalia.

Police arrested Derrick Hildreth and Thomas Edgtion III. They both live at 107 East Bank St., Apt. 2.

Hildreth

Hildreth, 42, was charged with 10 counts of criminal sale of a controlled substance in the third degree and 12 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree (which are all class B felonies).

Edgtion, 34, was charged with 1 count of criminal sale and 3 counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the third degree.

Edgtion

Both were arraigned in Albion Town Court by Town Justice Joseph Fuller. Hildreth was committed to the Orleans County Jail on no bail due to his previous criminal history, the Task Force said in a news release.

Edgtion was committed to the County Jail on $20,000 cash bail or bond.

Both are to return to the Albion Town Court on Dec. 11 at 9 a.m.

This investigation is ongoing, with further charges and arrests are pending, said Joe Sacco, supervising investigator for the Task Force.

Minimum wage locally will go from $11.10 to $11.80 an hour beginning on Dec. 31, and will rise to $12.50 in another year on Dec. 31, 2020.

This is part of the Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s and the State Legislature push to bring minimum wage to $15 an hour in New York City, Long Island and Westchester County. It will peak at $12.50 for the rest of the state, including Orleans County.

Governor Cuomo today announced the higher minimum wage phase-in isn’t hurting the economy. He cited a report by the Division of the Budget that found a decline in New York’s unemployment rate to record lows. The governor said the data indicates that recent minimum wage increases have been absorbed with negligible, if any, impacts on labor demand in every region. (Click here to see the report.)

Based on the report’s finding, the current outlook for continued growth in employment and wages at a moderate pace allows the state labor market to absorb the minimum wage increases scheduled for 2020.

“New York is leading the fight for economic justice, proudly setting a national example by raising the minimum wage to $15,” Governor Cuomo said. “Nearly three years after we set New York on a path to achieve a $15 minimum wage, we are seeing the benefits: record low unemployment rates, fewer people living in poverty, less people working multiple part-time jobs and more families given the opportunity to live a decent life. In New York we believe in a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work, and we won’t stop fighting until every hardworking New Yorker is paid the fair wages they deserve.”

The report produced by the Division of the Budget is required by the minimum wage statute to serve as vehicle for reviewing the state of the economy in each region and the effect of minimum wage increases to determine whether increases move forward as scheduled or if there should be a delay.

Key findings from the Division of the Budget’s Minimum Wage Report include:

• In September 2018, the state’s unemployment rate fell to a historic low of 3.8 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis and has remained at or near this historic low since then.

• Through the first 10 months of 2019, the state unemployment rate has averaged 4 percent, and if that trend continues for the remaining two months, 2019 will represent the lowest record on an annual average basis since the 1970s.

• Private sector jobs are expected to grow at a still healthy pace of 1.2 percent in 2020, following 1.4 percent growth in 2019.

• New York State wages are rising, supported by the increase in minimum wage. Household income in New York State rose 2.5 percent in 2018 compared to a nationwide increase of only 0.8 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

• New York State wages are expected to continue to grow amid a tight labor market.

• The number of minimum wage workers is projected to rise to about 1.5 million in 2020 comprising 16.4 percent of the workforce, suggesting that well over one million New York State workers will have likely benefitted from the State’s rising minimum wage since 2013.

• The percentage of part-time workers is expected to drop from 52.1 percent in 2009 to 41.2 percent by 2020.

• The minimum wage workforce has gotten older and is more likely to be working full time. The percent of workers ages 16-24 are expected to drop from 41.4 percent in 2009 to 31.3 percent by 2020.

Press Release, State Sen. Rob Ortt

State Senator Rob Ortt, R-North Tonawanda, received a perfect score from the Conservative Party of New York State. Each year, the Conservative Party rates New York State Legislators based on how these state representatives vote on various bills and issues from the previous year. Based on his votes in the 2019 Legislative Session, Sen. Rob Ortt has received a 100.

Rob Ortt

“As a result of the 2018 elections, New York has been set on the dangerous path of enacting extreme and ultra-progressive policies,” said Sen. Ortt. “I am proud to have stood firm on my beliefs as a Conservative and a Christian, stood up for the Conservative values our nation was founded upon, and pushed back on the radical legislation that the regressive left has forced upon the residents of New York State. Because New York serves as a blueprint for the national Democratic Party, we must have a staunch Conservative representing NY-27 who will stand firm when these same policies are pushed by radicals like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on the national level.”

Ortt said he has served as a champion for New York’s pro-life community, a defender of religious freedom, and an advocate for Second Amendment rights. This is the third time that he has received the Conservative Party’s highest rating in the State Senate since joining the Legislature five years ago.

“I would like to thank New York State Conservative Party Chairman Gerard Kassar, Erie County Conservative Party Chairman Ralph Lorigo, and the Niagara County Conservative Party for their support and recognition,” Ortt said. “NY-27 must be represented by an individual who is proud to stand up for the conservative values of those held by so many in Western New York. Each day, we continue to see an assault on not only our president but on our fundamental values by the radical left. President Trump needs strong allies who will stand with him against these assaults, and at a time when our values are under attack, I have been a battle-tested defender of those values. I am proud to be recognized.”

ALBION – The county is accepting applications until Dec. 16 for the next chief administrative officer of the county government, a $71 million operation with 415 employees in 24 departments.

Chuck Nesbitt has served as CAO for the county for 14 ½ years, leading the county through several major building projects, including the recent $11 million addition to the County Administration Building.

“We’re not going to hire just anybody,” said Lynne Johnson, chairwoman of the County Legislature. “It has to be the right person.”

The county is being assisted in the search for Nesbitt’s successor by Ian Coyle, the Livingston County administrator.

Johnson said several candidates have already applied for the position, which is advertised for a salary of $100,000 to $125,000. Click here to see the job posting.

Coyle and Jack Welch, the county’s personnel director, will work to narrow the applicants to three to five who will then be interviewed by county legislators.

Nesbitt is taking a job with Wendel, an architectural and engineering firm. He will help Wendel expand its customer base in the Rochester and Syracuse area. Nesbitt will be a resource for local and state governments tackling building projects and infrastructure upgrades.

Nesbitt is well regarded in the county government circles. He just finished his tenure as president of the New York State Association of Counties. He served as president of the NYS Association of County Administrators and Managers from 2008 to 2018.

He has worked to reimagine the county government in Orleans County. That includes a merged health department with Genesee County, the only two-county public health department in the state.

The key responsibilities for chief administrative officer include preparation of the county budget, developing long-range capital improvement budgets, purchasing oversight, labor relations management, property control

and risk management, intergovernmental relations and legislative advocacy, public information officer duties, and general oversight of departments and the coordination and administration of county government functions and activities.

Nesbitt’s last day on the job is Dec. 31. Johnson said department heads will likely assume some of the CAO duties in the transition to a new CAO. Johnson also will have to fill some of the duties.

She is hopeful a new CAO will be in place in February.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature on Wednesday unanimously approved a $71,711,638 budget for 2020, which is up 1.0 percent from the $71,031,480 in 2019.

The budget increases taxes by 2.5 percent or $439,455 to $18,009,699 in 2020. That remains under the tax cap because the county had some carryover from prior years when it was under the cap.

Although the tax levy – what the county collects in taxes – will increase by 2.5 percent, the tax rate is going down by 23 cents, from $10.10 to $9.87 per $1,000 of assessed property. That’s because of growth in the county’s tax base. Assessed values are up 4.93 percent or by $85.7 million – from $1.74 billion in 2019 to $1.82 billion in 2020.

County officials needed to include about $350,000 in additional costs to meet state mandates for new criminal justice programs with bail reform and discovery laws. The state didn’t provide funding for those initiatives. The county will need to add four new positions – two in the District Attorney’s Office and two in Probation – to meet the new requirements that start Jan. 1.

The county could have covered those costs with the estimated $400,000 in new sales tax revenue on internet purchases. But the state instead is requiring the county to pay $290,000 to towns and villages in Aid and Incentives to Municipalities. AIM is a state program that the governor and State Legislature decided will be partially funded by counties through their sales tax.

The budget maintains services provided by 430 full- and part-time employees. The budget keeps school resource officers at Kendall and Lyndonville school districts. (Those districts reimburse the county for providing officers at the schools, which started in 2018.)

The county budget also will invest $3.85 million infrastructure with road maintenance and bridge and culvert work, Nesbitt said in a budget message.

The budget keeps the same level of funding in 2020 as 2019 for several agencies that provide services in the community: Cornell Cooperative Extension, $240,000; Orleans Economic Development Agency, $190,000; Soil & Water Conservation District, $92,500; four public libraries, $10,000 combined; Sportsmen’s Federation, $4,000; and Geneses-Orleans Regional Arts Council, $3,000.

The fee for solid waste and recycling service will be $212, which is the same as 2019. That cost is holding steady as the county transitioned to larger recycling totes this year, which are picked up every two weeks instead of weekly.

MEDINA – Orleans Community Health has announced it is now equipped with a new device to help treat sudden cardiac arrest.

The ZOLL AutoPulse Resuscitation System helps to improve blood flow to the heart and brain during sudden cardiac arrest because of the unique, high quality chest compressions it generates, according to Cindy Perry, director of Outreach, Education and Marketing for Orleans Community Health. The equipment was purchased with grant funding from the state, Perry said.

Cardiac arrest is a substantial public health problem with more than 720,000 people in the United States affected every year. According to Keys to Public Health/Population Health Collaborative, Orleans County ranks in the worst 25% of all counties for age adjusted deaths from heart attacks in New York state.

“Our goal is to protect the lives of our community’s citizens, and this equipment is an important step in helping to achieve that goal,” said Dr. Richard S. Elman, FACEP, Emergency Department director at Medina Memorial Hospital. “I have been a professional Emergency Department physician for more than 40 years, and I have never seen a devise that does what AutoPulse does. With it, we are better equipped to deal with sudden cardiac arrest.”

Elman continued to say that manual CPR is the standard for providing temporary circulatory support and oxygen delivery during cardiac arrest. However, due to physical challenges, delivery of high-quality manual CPR is difficult to provide in many situations and can quickly become tiresome for health care workers to do for prolonged periods of time.

“Improvements in resuscitation practices could save many lives,” Elman said.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Orleans County Legislator John DeFilipps, who owns a house on the lakefront in Carlton, states his support for a lawsuit against the International Joint Commission, a Canadian and American group that is charged with managing lake levels.

ALBION – The Orleans County Legislature went on the record today in support of the state’s lawsuit against the International Joint Commission.

State Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo last filed an expanded lawsuit against the IJC for failing to implement its flood protocol. The state is seeking at least $50 million in damages.

The county isn’t joining the lawsuit, but is stating its support for the state’s legal action. The county has about 25 miles of shoreline in Yates, Carlton and Kendall and many of the homes have had their property eroded from the high waters.

“We need to send the message,” said Ken DeRoller, a county legislator from Kendall. “They aren’t letting enough water out early enough.”

DeRoller said he is concerned the lake is currently 15 inches higher than it was a year ago on this date. Ice jams in Montreal make it difficult to let out water, he said.

County Legislator Don Allport of Gaines cast the lone no vote on the resolution today. He called the lawsuit from the state, “a publicity stunt.”

“This is not a solution,” Allport said. “This is just taxpayer money being thrown around.”

County Legislator John DefIlipps, who has a home by the lake in Carlton, said the county should show its support of the lawsuit being pushed by the state.

“Anything we can do to get these lake levels down we should do,” he said.

The Legislature’s resolution said the high water in 2017 and 2019 “caused millions of dollars’ worth of damage to the infrastructure, roads, homes and businesses along the lake shore of Orleans County.”

Copies of the resolution will be forwarded to Governor Cuomo; Senator Rob Ortt; Assemblyman Steve Hawley; Assemblyman Mike Norris; Towns of Kendall, Yates and Carlton; and Niagara, Monroe, Wayne, Cayuga, Oswego, Jefferson and St. Lawrence counties.

Photo by Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A one-day toy drive on Saturday during Medina’s Olde Tyme Christmas celebration filled about a dozen bags with toys and also netted $930 to buy toys and food for families.

The toys were collected at Canalside Tattoo in on Main Street in Medina. The toys will go to the Medina Area Association of Churches for its Christmas Box Program and also to Community Action of Orleans & Genesee. People were welcome to drop off toys. For every toy donated or for every $5, people would get a chance to win one of 20 packages donated by local businesses.

Pictured, from left, include: Shawn Ramsey, owner of Canalside Tattoo; Andrew Szatkowski, toy drive chairman; Annette Finch, Community Services director for Community Action; Michelle Figueroa, case manager for Community Action; and Sherry Tuohey, coordinator of Christmas Box Program for MAAC.

The MAAC receives 20 percent of the donations which will go towards presents for 150 children in Medina.

Community Action receives 80 percent of the presents and money. That agency is putting together Christmas packages for about 500 families, including more than 1,000 children in Albion, Lyndonville, Holley and Kendall.

Szatkowski, chairman of the third annual toy drive, said this year’s collection will be made in memory of Kelly Duffield, the owner of Rudy’s Diner who died from cancer at age 49 on Oct. 21. Duffield helped collect gifts for the drive at Rudy’s and also was a generous giver to the effort, Szatkowski said.

Duffield’s son, Brodie Hoffmeister, has carried on his mother’s support of the toy drive, allowing customers to leave presents at Rudy’s ahead of Saturday, and also donating to the drive.

RIDGEWAY — The Orleans County Sheriff’s Office has released the name of a man involved in a standoff that lasted about 11 hours on Knowlesville Road.

Edward R. Loper, 31, is facing multiple charges after being taken into custody at 2:48 a.m. today.

The Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to 3634 Knowlesville Rd. at 4:46 p.m. on Tuesday with reports of a disturbance, Sheriff Randy Bower said in a news release.

The first arriving law enforcement officers found a large crowd outside the residence and learned a person had been assaulted and mini-14 rifle and a shotgun had been stolen.

Loper went back inside the residence after threatening to kill the people in the front yard, Bower said.

A perimeter was then established by the Orleans County Sheriff’s Office and State Police. The Orleans County Multi-Agency SWAT was then requested to the scene when the law enforcement on the scene were unable to make contact with Loper.

Members of the SWAT Team then took up positions on the perimeter and attempted to contact Loper.

Due to the cold temperature and weather conditions, the SWAT teams from Genesee and Monroe counties were called to the scene to assist.

An Orleans County Sheriff’s investigator and negotiator from the Monroe County Sheriff’s office were able to make contact with Loper. After an hours long phone conversation with Loper, and several tactics used by the SWAT teams on scene, Loper agreed to come out of the residence. He came out of the front door and was taken into custody at 2:48 a.m.

He has been charged with second-degree robbery, second-degree burglary, criminal possession of a weapon, third-degree assault, second-degree menacing and fourth-degree grand larceny.

He was arraigned by Ridgeway Town Justice Joseph Kujawa and was committed to the Orleans County Jail on $50,000 cash bail. He is to appear in Ridgeway Town Court on Dec. 9 at 9 a.m.

Sheriff Bower said the Sheriff’s Office appreciates the work of all the responding law enforcement agencies, fire departments and EMS personnel.

Press Release, U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer on Tuesday revealed, following his major push, that the Federal Reserve, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), in tandem with the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, have confirmed the legality of banks and other financial institutions extending services and products to industrial hemp-oriented businesses and farms.

Schumer explained that without access to traditional financial services, local farmers and the industrial hemp industry across Upstate New York had been unfairly restricted on capital investment, preventing further economic growth and the creation of good-paying jobs, and choking off valuable income for farmers.

Schumer explained that the lack of awareness by lending institutions about the legality of industrial hemp had created an unwarranted murkiness around the legality of financing hemp-oriented businesses—and that new guidance was urgently needed. With that now cleared up, the industrial hemp industry can continue to seed and grow across Upstate New York.

“This is a strong step in the right direction to boost the growth of the industrial hemp industry, and I am glad federal regulators, including the Fed, heeded my call to provide clarity to banks that industrial hemp is fully legal and their member banks are free to lend to farmers and producers,” Schumer said. “Now that the feds have issued to lenders updated guidance clarifying hemp’s legality as a crop, the industry will really start to take root and grow.”

Specifically, the Fed, FDIC, FinCEN and OCC announced that under the Bank Secrecy Act, banks will no longer have to file Suspicious Activity Reports for industrial hemp-oriented businesses seeking to attain loans or other services. Schumer explained that this will significantly increase the likelihood that these businesses receive financial services, and help the industry continue growing and creating good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.

Schumer explained that since the 2018 Farm Bill removed the federal regulatory shackles from industrial hemp production, manufacturing, and selling, New York’s industrial hemp industry has started to grow significantly, with new farms and businesses emerging and existing ones expanding operations. This has brought considerably more good-paying jobs and revenue to Upstate New York, making industrial hemp a critical new part of the state’s agricultural future.

That being said, as industrial hemp farmers and businesses are exploring the full benefits of the 2018 Farm Bill, they have experienced serious difficulty accessing financial products with regulatory uncertainty at financial institutions. While some companies have agreed to offer financial services to the growing hemp industry, many have not due to confusion over the crop’s legal status.

“I fought so hard to strip the burdensome and outdated federal regulations from industrial hemp because of all the good it can do for our farmers, our economy and our consumers,” Schumer said. “Today’s updated financial guidance related to industrial hemp means that we’re one big step closer to the complete emergence of a job-creating, economy-boosting industry across New York State.”

The Schumer-backed Hemp Farming Act of 2018 was introduced by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Sens. Rand Paul (R-KY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). It passed and was signed into law as part of the 2018 Farm Bill. This legislation:

• Removes industrial hemp from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act

• Empowers states to be the principal regulators of hemp

• Allows hemp researchers to apply for competitive grants from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA); and

• Makes hemp farmers eligible to apply for crop insurance

Press Release, Genesee Community College

ALBION – Now in its seventh year, Genesee Community College and the Orleans Hub are proud to continue the Orleans County Heritage Heroes Awards which recognize the dedication and hard work of dedicated citizens who strive to protect and preserve local history. They are now seeking nominations for the awards. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, February 28, 2020.

“Residents of Orleans County take great pride in their heritage,” said Jim Simon, associate dean of GCC’s Orleans County Campus Centers in Medina and Albion. “For our seventh consecutive year, we want to continue to recognize the time and investment of individuals who are tireless advocates for local history.”

Nominees for Heritage Heroes Awards can be any age but posthumous nominations will not be accepted. History professionals and GCC employees are also not eligible for the award, nor are those who serve on the awards selection committees. Nominees must be Orleans County residents.

Last year’s winners included Harriette Greaser, Lynne Menz and Tom Taber. Todd Bensley received the special C.W. “Bill” Lattin Award for Excellence in Municipal History and Neil Johnson received the Bob Waters Lifetime Achievement Award. Because nominations are not retained for future consideration, residents who made previous nominations are encouraged to re-submit a nominee again for this coming year.

“Many residents from all over the county work hard on restoring historic houses and protecting other community assets, including museums, churches and other historical artifacts,” said Tom Rivers, Orleans Hub editor. “The dedicated people working to preserve these treasures deserve praise for adding to the quality of life and character of the community.”

To nominate someone for the Heritage Heroes Awards, write up a brief statement outlining the person’s contributions, projects and community affiliations. Anyone sending in a nomination should provide their name (anonymous nomination packages will not be accepted), address, phone number and email address. The more in-depth the detail provided in the nomination, the stronger the submission. Submit the nomination to:

ATTENTION: Heritage Heroes Committee

Genesee Community College / Medina Campus Center

11470 Maple Ridge Rd., Medina, NY 14103-9675

Nominations may also be emailed to Jim Simon at jsimon@genesee.edu. Please write Heritage Heroes Nomination in the subject line.

A screening process involving community members and history professionals will review the nominations and recommend finalists. From those finalists, the executive committee including GCC Associate Dean Jim Simon, Associate Professor Derek Maxfield and Orleans Hub Editor Tom Rivers will choose the Heritage Heroes.

“We are very pleased to recognize those whose efforts often go unnoticed,” said Associate Professor of History, Derek Maxfield. “They make many personal sacrifices in order to preserve history for future generations.”

The Heritage Heroes will be recognized during a ceremony at Genesee Community College in Albion in April 2020.

Photo courtesy of Mike Bower: Matt Campbell and Mike Church from the Village of Holley Department of Public Works came out to Erie Way Tree Farm on Tuesday to bring back a Christmas tree to be displayed in Holley’s Public Square this holiday season. The tree was donated by Erie Way owner Mike Bower in memory of his late brother, Edwin Bower.

HOLLEY – The Village of Holley will continue its “Night of Lights” celebration Saturday from 4 to 7 p.m.

“There will be many activities for children and adults in our village square including the Holley Community Library, Community Center, and at the Legion,” said Brian Sorochty, Holley’s mayor. “Holiday music will be played in the square by Northern Lights DJ and by our Holley Elementary and Highschool Chorus and Bands.”

The event includes a holiday parade at 6:30 p.m., which will be followed immediately by the “Citizen of the Year” award, memory bulb recitation, and tree-lighting ceremony.

There will also be eight wineries and multiple vendors set up in village business storefronts. Wine-tasting tickets will be available for purchase that day at the Village Office for $10.

“We are also continuing our tradition of lighting the tree in all blue lights in honor of our brave emergency services and law enforcement personnel,” Sorochty said. “We have had increasing turnout for this event over the last few years and we are looking forward to seeing everyone back again. Please join us for a fun evening celebrating the joys of the season.”

KNOWLESVILLE — A standoff ended peacefully last night at 2:48 a.m. with the suspect taken into custody, Orleans County Sheriff Randy Bower said.

A person living on Knowlesville Road refused to come out of an apartment house at about 6 p.m. on Tuesday. That person had a rifle.

Multiple law enforcement agencies were on the scene for several hours and traffic was cut off from the road, keeping some residents out of their homes for several hours.

Bower said more information would soon be released.

Photo by Tom Rivers: Firefighters are at the intersection of Knowlesville Road and Route 31 tonight, to keep traffic from going down Knowlesville Road where there is a standoff.

UPDATED 7:10 a.m.: The standoff ended peacefully at 2:48 a.m. with the suspect being taken into custody, Sheriff Randy Bower said this morning.

KNOWLESVILLE — Traffic is not being allowed on Knowlesville Road where law enforcement have gathered at a standoff with a person who has a rifle and is refusing to come out of a house.

State Police, the Orleans County Sheriff’s office and the SWAT Team are all at the scene.

Law enforcement was called to the site just before 6 p.m.

No other details are available.

District wants time to consider metal detectors, added safety measures

Photo by Tom Rivers: Kathy Harling, president of the Albion Board of Education, said the district is evaluating its response to a threat at the Albion Middle School, and is bringing in a firm to look at the security of the campus and the district’s procedures in responding to threats.

ALBION – School leaders will meet with a security firm on Dec. 16 that is offering to do a safety assessment of the district campus, including a review of school procedures in responding to threats.

Armoured One is based in Syracuse and has offered to do the assessment for free. The firm works with school districts, governments and businesses and focuses on preventing active shooter attacks.

The firm was recommended to Albion by King & King Architects in Syracuse, a firm that has helped design several recent security upgrades at Albion school entrances. Kirk Narburgh, an Albion graduate, is one of the leaders of King & King.

Tom Czyz, a former SWAT team operator and homicide detective, is Armoured One’s CEO. He will do a campus safety audit of Albion on Wednesday and then will meet with Albion school leaders on Dec. 16 in a closed-door session to discuss Albion’s security system and response.

Three middle school students from Albion were charged with second-degree conspiracy on Nov. 8 after an alleged plot to bring guns and explosives to the school to harm students and staff.

Those students have been suspended and their cases are being handled in Family Court.

During a community forum on Nov. 19, some parents asked the district to put metal detectors in the school.

Albion has reached out to the New York State School Boards Association, Erie 1 BOCES and other groups for information and policies about installing metal detectors.

The Albion Board of Education wants to review that information before discussing if metal detectors should be added at the school.

The NYS School Boards didn’t submit a policy from its organization, but offered some starting points in a discussion about the issue. NYSSBA urged Albion to have its attorney review a policy before it is adopted by the board.

Hand-held wand metal detectors can be used to search students’ book bags, purses and other personal belongings “in appropriate circumstances,” the group said.

Some districts use unscheduled random screenings that are effective in detecting and deterring possession of weapons. A district can do “as needed screenings” on days chosen to address particular safety concerns (such as recent violence in a neighborhood) or on days with special events (such as athletic competitions), NYSSBA said.

Some other suggestions to consider:

• Daily random screenings can involve searches of randomly selected segment of the entire student body attending a school.

• If a metal detector activation results in the discovery of contraband, such activation and discovery shall be timely documented in accordance with the District’s Code of Conduct, as well as applicable state laws and regulations.

• Districts can have metal detectors at entryways or with wands that take reasonable steps for student safety and also respects the Constitutional rights of students and visitors.

• School administrators can direct a search under “reasonable suspicion that weapons are or will be on school property.”

• Signs need to be posted to inform students and visitors entering the school that they are subject to a screening of weapons as a condition of entry.

• Schools don’t have to screen everyone to avoid delays and a backlog of people, but must screen on a predetermined random basis or allow predetermined number of people to enter without being screened, then resume screening all persons.

• “Under no circumstances may school officials single out a particular individual or individuals to be searched, unless there is reasonable suspicion to believe that such person or persons are in possession of a weapon.”

• With metal detectors, screening should be by school officials of the same sex as the individual seeking admission to the building. Scanning will not be done by “in-house” police officers except at the discretion of other police officers.

• Prior to screening, individuals will be asked to place bags, parcels or coats on a table and to remove any metal objects (which will set off scanner) from their pockets and place them in a tray. Bags, backpacks, parcels and coats will also be scanned.

• If the detector is activated while scanning a bag or parcel, some schools request the owner to open the bag or parcel and remove any remaining metal objects which set off the scanner. The school official will then to a second scan. If a second scan activates the scanner, a school official will then examine the contents for weapons. Reasonable efforts shall be made to protect student privacy by not emptying the contents of bags and backpacks in plain view of other students and visitors.

Groups warn against armed presence, metal detectors in schools

Albion is reviewing information from the American School Counselor Association, National Association of School Psychologists, School Social Work Association of America, National Association of School Resource officers, National Association of Elementary School Principals, and National Association of Secondary School Principals.

These groups say a comprehensive school-wide approach is needed with access to mental health support for children.

“We caution against seemingly quick and potentially harmful solutions, such as arming school personnel, and urge policy leaders to support the following guidance to enact policies that will equip America’s schools to educate and safeguard our children over the long term,” the groups said.

The advocate for fully integrated learning supports – behavioral, mental health and social services.

“Balance physical and psychological safety to avoid overly restrictive measures (armed guards and metal detectors) that can undermine the learning environment and instead combine reasonable physical security measures (locked doors and monitored public spaces) with efforts to enhance school climate, build trusting relationships, and encourage students and adults to report potential threats,” the groups stated. “If a school determines the need for armed security, properly trained school resource officers (SROs) are the only school personnel of any type who should be armed.”

Albion reached out to the Erie 1 BOCES for a policy on metal detectors, but Erie 1 does not have a policy on those.

Erie 1 sent a message to Albion, saying use of metal detectors is “a very complex issue involving searches and privacy issues.”

Metal detectors are very common at airports, courthouses and other public buildings, and are accepted “by and large” from the general population

Erie 1 said hand-held wand metal detectors can be used to search students’ book bags, purses and other personal belongings “in appropriate circumstances.”

Some districts use unscheduled random screenings that are effective in detecting and deterring possession of weapons, Erie 1 said in a message to Albion officials.