Resource Officer to Start First Day of School

met Monday for a special voting meeting where it unanimously approved its end of the agreement with to contract a school resource officer (SRO) for the 2012-13 school year.

Board members David Hvizdos and Thomas McMurray were absent.

Board Vice President Lori Cuervo said she fully supports having an SRO and looks forward to it, however she expressed concern in job security for the full-time officer. 

According to the contract, it can extend year-to-year unless terminated by July 1. Cuervo questioned if the officer would be placed back into the police department if the contract was breached next year. 

Superintendent Nina Zetty said since it involves a union, she believes it is a seniority issue and the officer would be "bumped back into the system."

Board President Cindy Golembiewski said she felt a one-year contract would be OK—negotiate and try it out, she said. She also said the board would be starting conversations long before July, so the direction would be clear come next summer. 

Overall, the board agreed the SRO should start on the first day of school, Aug. 27. In June, to proceed with the agreement. 

The  did not receive a grant to support having an SRO. The contract includes that the district is responsible for paying 75 percent of the annual cost, and the municipality 25 percent, which amounts to approximately $20,822 annually.

District Spokeswoman Shelly Belcher, earlier this year, said the decision to have an SRO at was not a result of a threat or increased crime, but rather an effort to take "a proactive approach to providing a safe and secure environment."

Last May, as he worked part-time at the school daily starting in mid-April. He said students were welcoming, so much so they created a Twitter handle for him, according to Principal Lori Pavlik.

Positive feedback also came from the faculty and community. Stevick increased building security and handled some student-drug activity during his time spent at PTHS.

The school board meets for its next regular meeting, Monday, Aug. 20.

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