School Resource Officer Will Be In Place by the First Day of School

Instead of hiring one full-time school resource officer in Ramsey, school board officials said at a recent meeting that they may hire two part-time officers.

The decision on whether to go with one person or two people will depend on what the applicant pool for the job looks like, board members said at the meeting. But, either way, the SRO will be in place by the start of the 2013-14 school year next month.

Board members also said that although the SRO will be based at the high school, he or she will also be a “resource available to all buildings,” and could rotate as needed. The officer or officers will be responsible for handling crisis management drills throughout the district.

The board initially approved a job description for the SRO at the end of June. The job duties include patrolling the inside and outside spaces of the school, assisting police and other responders during emergencies, and managing the flow of visitors in and out of the building.

In its applicants, the board is looking for a minimum of 20 years experience in law enforcement, the New Jersey Security Officer Registration Act certification, and good interpersonal skills.