MECHANICSBURG, Pa., Oct. 22, 2025 – The Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) Trust today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Richard V. Poirier Innovation Center, a new 14,000-square-foot facility designed to expand services for school safety and streamline operations for PSBA subsidiaries.
The PSBA Trust, established in 1971, supports programs and services that benefit school directors and districts across Pennsylvania. The new center will house offices for the Trust, PSBA Insurance and the PSBA Institute, bringing all subsidiaries under one roof.
A major feature of the facility will be the Pennsylvania School Safety Institute (PennSSI), launched in 2022 to provide hands-on training and preparedness experiences for school leaders, staff and law enforcement. The expanded space will include:
- 360-degree smart screens for immersive safety scenarios
- Simulated classrooms and a two-story school building for real-life drills
- Lecture hall for classroom-style training
“This technology represents the most advanced school safety simulation available in the United States,” said Roberta Marcus, chair of the PennSSI Board of Directors.
The center is named in honor of Richard V. Poirier, CEO of Church Mutual Insurance Company and longtime PSBA supporter, who played a key role in PSBA’s insurance partnership and acquisition in 2016. Poirier was recently elected vice chair of the PennSSI Board.
“This groundbreaking marks a transformative moment for PSBA and the schools we serve,” said Kathy Swope, chair of the PSBA Trust Board of Directors. “By investing in cutting-edge safety training and bringing our subsidiaries together under one roof, we are strengthening our ability to support school leaders and ensure safe learning environments for every student in Pennsylvania.”
During the ceremony, PSBA Governing Board President Allison Mathis announced a $500,000 donation toward construction of the new facility from the association. Local legislators, community leaders and project partners also attended the event.
Construction is expected to begin immediately, with completion anticipated in summer 2026. Following the ceremony, attendees toured the existing PennSSI facility at PSBA headquarters.
