Unionville-Chadds Ford School Board directors were forced to punt on two measures up for a vote during their June 17 meeting. Decisions on a replacement director and on a security check-in system were postponed to July 15.

One of those votes regards the adoption of the Raptor Visitor Security System. That system, recommended by Superintendent John Sanville, requires visitors to show a driver’s license or other state approved ID, which would then be scanned and run through a sex offender data base. Visitors would then be given a pass with their photo.

Sanville has said it adds an extra layer of perimeter security.

As previously reported, the Great Valley School district uses Raptor and U-CF looked at the system there.

Several board members said they wanted more information before they decide.

Kathy Do said the system only looks for one type of person, not people with other criminal records. Citing the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., Do said no system could prevent such an incident, but that she would like to know whether the system could be upgraded to look for people with records of gun violence.

Gregg Lindner said the system isn’t practical when a large number of people are visiting a school and that more discussion is needed.

Holly Manzone said she doesn’t know whether Raptor would make people safer.

“It wouldn’t stop [convicted child molester] Jerry Sandusky,” she said. “I want to know more about it. We need more time.”

Another director, Vic Dupuis, agreed that further discussion is warranted, but suggested that Raptor should be viewed as an ID system, not a security system.

Supervisor of Building and Grounds Rick Hostetler, in response to questions from Director Jeff Hellrung, said Raptor does not do a deep background check, but it is possible. Such a check would take longer and it wouldn’t differentiate between minor and major offenses. He also said it can’t be programmed to look for anything specific in that type of mode. It’s designed to check a Megan’s Law database, nothing broader.

Noting that visitors have to be checked in anyway, Hellrung said it’s not a security system, but “It’s an upgrade in what we have now. It’s clearly an improved check-in system and the price is reasonable.”

That price is an initial $11,200 with an additional $480 per school per year.

Board President Eileen Bushelow said there’s no downside to adopting the system, but was willing to postpone a vote. She initially suggested a vote in August, but Hostetler said that would be too late to install the system by the beginning of the school year.

The board did vote on an interim replacement for Frank Murphy who previously announced his resignation from the board effective noon, June 17, but none of the six candidates received the requisite number of votes.

Procedure required nominations followed by a vote, with five votes needed for the appointment. Only three of the six candidates — Dell Joshi, Carol Biederman and Leticia Flores De Wilde — were nominated, but none received the necessary five votes after three tries.

Joshi and Biederman received three votes each and Flores De Wilde received one in the first round of voting. Flores De Wilde was then eliminated — by procedure — and a second vote taken resulting in three votes for Joshi and four for Biederman. The third round had the same result.

By procedure, all six candidates will be back in the running next month.

The other candidates are John Murphy, Lorraine Ramunno and Skip Barthold.

The candidate who is appointed will serve until the November general election.

Sanville said state law requires the appointment be made within 30 days of a vacancy or the matter goes to the Court of Common Pleas.

The vacancy is from Region C, made up of Chadds Ford and Pennsbury townships. Of the six candidates, Joshi and Barthold are from Chadds Ford. Frank Murphy is also from Chadds Ford. He will be running for township supervisor in November.

Other business

• As anticipated, the board approved the budget for the 2013-2014 academic year. The plan calls for $72.5 million in revenue. The new millage rate is 25.73 mills in Chester County and 21.71 mills for the Delaware County residents in Chadds Ford.

Hellrung and Director Keith Knauss voted against the budget. Knauss said the district has for years over anticipated spending and under anticipated revenue. That has resulted in a $4.5 million surplus that Knauss would like to see returned to the taxpayers in the district.

• The board also approved, again, the new teachers’ contract. Members previously approved the deal, but had to vote again when two half-days were changed to full days for teachers and students.