Petersburg schools outline expanded security and emergency-management plan

Petersburg City Public Schools’ director of security and emergency management, Paul Ronka, told the school board on Aug. 6 that the division has completed multiple security upgrades and is expanding training, oversight and a quarterly planning cycle for 2025–26.
The presentation detailed new or upgraded vestibules at three elementary schools, replacement and expansion of interior and exterior cameras and the installation of dash and interior bus cameras. Ronka said the division also installed a radio repeater at Petersburg High School to fix communication gaps and is piloting a mobile surveillance trailer.
Why it matters: Ronka said the upgrades, combined with new training and a proposed dedicated security budget, are intended to standardize practices across schools and speed incident response.
Ronka reviewed policy and compliance elements required by the Virginia Department of Education and other state bodies, including annual school emergency-plan reviews, drills and threat-assessment teams. He described officer training given last year — including restraint and seclusion, civilian response to active shooter events (CRASE), stop-the-bleed/casualty care and trauma-informed youth mental health first aid — and said officers will receive additional, mandatory certification and an officer handbook.
Board members and staff debated implementation. Board member Hal Miles pressed for stronger front-door enforcement and immediate handling of incidents reported by bus drivers: “The thing is, is that everything you presented sounds great. And but if if it's not being implemented, it's horrible,” Miles said, arguing that contraband and disruptive students should be stopped at building entry points rather than allowed into classrooms. Superintendent Dr. Brown said she would triage staffing and supervisory concerns through her office and hold staff accountable.
Ronka said he is requesting one additional lead security officer and will continue to document training and certifications. He acknowledged some schools pose physical constraints for vestibule construction and said projects would be prioritized by design and safety need. He also said technology pilots discussed at a recent safety conference — including wearable alert devices and compact radio units — will be explored.
Board action: No formal vote accompanied the presentation; later discussion directed staff to continue implementing the plan and to return with further operational details.
Less critical: Ronka noted a vape-detection system pilot that also flags gunshots and other threats and said each school will keep VDOE-compliant all-hazards plans and drill logs.