As Whitehall-Coplay School District students return to campus next week, they will have one more new face to get familiar with, in addition to their teachers and classmates.

Officer Quadir Carter will join Officer Matthew Christman on the district’s patrol for the 2018-19 school year.

Carter has served with the Whitehall Township Police Department since 2014. He received his master’s degree from Lehigh University in elementary education and was employed by KidsPeace as a teacher before his police service.

According to Superintendent Dr. Lorie Hackett, Carter and Christman will not be assigned to specific schools. Both will participate in activities within all of the district’s buildings to create a presence across the campus.

Teachers and administrators will participate in an active violence drill during a professional development day Aug. 23. The drill will be performed with the Whitehall Township Police Department and Lehigh County emergency responders.

Hackett said the district is constantly revising its emergency operations plan and reviewing its school safety audit to ensure that its schools are following the best safety practices.

“The district has implemented a comprehensive camera surveillance system in all of our buildings, to remain proactive in providing a safe environment,” Hackett said. “Each of our school buildings has been upgraded to include a secure entrance, as well as security procedures for parents and visitors.”

Whitehall Police Chief Michael Marks meets with Hackett and the school resource officers on a regular basis to review safety initiatives. In addition to keeping the campus safe, Marks said information gathered at the schools is crucial for keeping the community at large safe.

“Our two school resource officers will not only provide safety and resources for the campus, but this will also help out with the department’s community policing initiatives,” Marks said. “The students deserve to feel safe when they go to school, as well as the district employees who go to work every day.”

Both Hackett and Marks are confident in the district’s preparation as they head into the new school year.

“In the national media, there has obviously been a lot of concern about how to protect our schools, and I believe that it is very important to stress that the Whitehall Township police, along with the Whitehall-Coplay School District, have taken action to help address the concerns in our community,” Marks said.

Teachers and staff reported for their first day Aug. 20. Students are scheduled to begin classes Aug. 27.