School Security Guard

School Security Guard

Civil Service Jurisdiction - Chautauqua County Department of Human Resources

Jurisdictional Class - Non-Competitive / Labor Class (to be confirmed by Chautauqua County Civil Service upon position filing)

Bargaining Unit - Non-affiliated / to be determined – not currently assigned to CSEA Unit #6303

Reports To - Corey Markham, Director of Secondary Education

FLSA Status - Non-Exempt

Work Location(s) - Stationed full-time at Dunkirk Middle & High School (DM&H), grades 7–12

Length of Workday / Week - 5 days/week (Monday–Friday), 7:45 a.m.–3:15 p.m.; 7.0 paid hours/day – 35 hours/week

Rate of Pay - $30.00- 35.00 per hour, may be negotiated based on experience

Employment Basis - School-year position; paid only on days students are in session per the BOE-adopted calendar – no paid holidays, breaks, or summer pay

Minimum Qualifications

Candidates must meet one of the following:

• Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma, and five (5) years of experience in security, law enforcement, or corrections work
• Retirement in good standing from a New York State or municipal police department, sheriff's office, or the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (or comparable out-of-state law enforcement/corrections agency), with satisfactory completion of Basic Police Officer or Corrections Academy training
• An equivalent combination of the training and experience above sufficient to indicate the ability to perform the essential duties of the position, as determined by the Chautauqua County Department of Human Resources.

Special Requirements

• Must successfully complete all district-required background clearances, including fingerprinting under New York Education Law § 3035 and Article 23-B of the Correction Law, prior to appointment.
• Registration as a security guard with the New York State Department of State under General Business Law Article 7-A may be required unless the incumbent qualifies for an applicable exemption (e.g., certain retired police officers); the district will confirm applicability with NYS DOS prior to appointment.
• Candidates who are retirees of the New York State and Local Retirement System should be advised of the post-retirement earnings limitations under Retirement and Social Security Law § 212 (or § 211 approval where applicable), and should consult NYSLRS regarding the impact of this position on their retirement benefit.

Hours of Work

• Standard schedule: five (5) days per week, Monday through Friday, 7:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. (a 7.5-hour daily span), aligned to the DM&H instructional day.
• Includes one (1) unpaid, duty-free 30-minute lunch period, consistent with the meal period required under New York Labor Law § 162 for a workday of this length.
• Includes two (2) paid 15-minute break periods, taken on a staggered coverage-rotation basis set by the DM&H principal/designee.
• Net paid time: 7.0 hours per day / 35 hours per week.
• This is a school-year position, compensated only for days students are in session per the BOE-adopted school calendar; the position does not carry paid holidays, school breaks (e.g., winter/spring recess), or summer pay.
• Schedule may be adjusted for early dismissals, delayed openings, and district emergencies, with advance notice provided where practicable.

This position exercises no formal supervisory authority over other staff. The incumbent reports to the Director of Secondary Education, and receives day-to-day direction from the DM&H principal or designee.

Typical Work Activities

• Patrols school buildings, grounds, parking areas, and surrounding perimeter on foot to detect and deter unsafe, disruptive, or unauthorized activity.
• Responds promptly to alarms, disturbances, fights, medical emergencies, fire alarms, and other incidents; secures the scene, renders or summons appropriate first aid, and notifies administration, emergency medical services, or a School Resource Officer as warranted.
• Enforces the district Code of Conduct and building rules in a manner consistent with district policy and applicable law, intervening in or de-escalating student conflicts and referring disciplinary matters to building administration.
• Assists with the supervision of students during arrival, dismissal, hallway transitions, lunch periods, and assemblies.
• Directs vehicular and pedestrian traffic in parking lots, bus loops, and drop-off/pick-up areas to promote safe movement of students and vehicles.
• Prepares clear, accurate, and timely written incident reports and unusual occurrences.
• Coordinates daily security activity with the assigned School Resource Officer (SRO), sharing relevant information on building access, student concerns, and emerging safety issues, and promptly defers to the SRO on matters requiring sworn law enforcement authority, such as arrest, criminal investigation, or off-campus criminal matters.
• Confiscates prohibited or dangerous items in accordance with district policy and chain-of-custody procedures, and turns such items over to administration or law enforcement as appropriate.
• Operates and maintains security-related equipment, including two-way radios.
• Attends training on topics such as emergency response, de-escalation, Narcan/first aid, and school-specific safety protocols.
• Performs related duties as assigned.

Full Performance Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Personal Characteristics

• Good knowledge of practices and procedures used to maintain order and protect the safety of students, staff, visitors, and district property.
• Working knowledge of applicable federal and state law, district policy, and the district Code of Conduct as they relate to student discipline, search and seizure, and use of authority in a school setting.
• Ability to remain calm, exercise sound independent judgment, and act decisively in emergency or high-stress situations.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective, age-appropriate working relationships with students, staff, parents, and the public.
• Ability to communicate clearly, both orally and in writing, including the preparation of concise and accurate incident reports.
• Ability to physically intervene safely and appropriately when required, consistent with training and district policy.
• Skill in de-escalation and conflict-resolution techniques appropriate to adolescents and children.
• Performs all duties with integrity, tact, courtesy, dependability, and while using sound judgment.

Distinguishing Features of the Class

Under the general supervision of the Director of Secondary Education, or other designated administrator, an employee in this class is responsible for the safety and security of students, staff, and visitors in Dunkirk City School District buildings and on district grounds. As currently assigned, this position is stationed full-time at Dunkirk Middle & High School (DM&H, grades 7–12). The work involves patrolling assigned facilities and grounds, monitoring entrances and access points, enforcing district rules and the Code of Conduct, and responding to incidents, medical emergencies, and safety hazards. This title is suited to candidates with prior sworn law enforcement or corrections experience – including retired Police Officers and retired Correction Officers – who bring established training in de-escalation, emergency response, report writing, and the lawful use of authority to a K-12 school setting. The employee is expected to build positive, trust-based relationships with students and staff while maintaining a visible, professional security presence. This is an unsworn civilian title: the incumbent has no arrest authority and does not supervise or direct the School Resource Officer, but is expected to coordinate closely with the SRO and other law enforcement on matters of building safety. The incumbent does related work as required.