Munson Trustees Asked to Help Fund Chardon Schools SRO

January 10, 2013

Munson Township Trustees had some questions last Monday afternoon regarding City of Chardon Mayor Phil King’s request for help in funding a school resource officer for Chardon Schools.

King, accompanied by Chardon City Manager Randy Sharpe, told trustees he has also approached Hambden, Claridon and Chardon township trustees, asking each board to contribute $8,100 per year toward funding an SRO.

Those townships as well as Munson have significant numbers of students attending Chardon Schools.

The city hired police officer Mike Shaw as a full-time SRO at the beginning of the school year when parents of students voiced concerns about sending their children to school following the Feb. 27 shooting at Chardon High School, King said.

“The plan is to continue to use an SRO at least through the end of the (2016) school year when the students who were freshmen (in February) will graduate,” he said.

The district expects to keep Shaw as an SRO through the end of the 2012-2013 school year, King said, adding then they will hopefully have Shaw or another SRO for the following two years.

In three years, the need for an SRO will be re-evaluated, King said.

The cost for nine months employment with benefits is $78,654.86, King said.

The Chardon Healing Fund has agreed to provide $30,000 for this year.

The remaining $48,655 divided six ways — four townships, the district and the City of Chardon — equals just over $8,100 each, he said.

“We plan to ask for state and federal funding,” King said, noting there are often strings attached to such grants.

Having a trained police officer in the district schools has a number of advantages besides providing a safety net in case of violence, he said.

An SRO can train teachers, staff and administrators on how to conduct a lock down, provide a positive role model for students, act as a deterrent for illegal or prohibited activities in the schools and fill a safety communications role, King said.

But the primary purpose is to provide the security that is important to a safe atmosphere in the schools, he said.

The Chardon Healing Fund will probably maintain its current funding level and the city is committed to keeping an SRO in Chardon Schools, King said.

“We will make sure the total cost is covered,” he said, adding none of the townships is obliged to contribute, but the collaboration would be empowering.

“I do believe all of us jumping in shows solidarity and an interest in the schools,” he said.

The SRO position was created on the city police department and special training was provided, Sharpe said.

“This (training) is a little more specific, dealing with youth,” he said.

The SRO also works with administrators, teachers and parents.

King said the SRO is now a presence in all the schools following the shooting of first graders at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in December.

“Up until a couple of weeks ago, I never thought it would permeate to the elementary schools,” he said.

Claridon Township Trustees have already been approached to help fund an SRO at Berkshire Schools, so Claridon won’t be contributing one-sixth of the total to the Chardon SRO effort, King said.

“I’m sure it’s a topic of discussion everywhere,” Trustee Irene McMullen said, adding West Geauga Schools doesn’t have an SRO, to her knowledge.

A majority of Munson students attend either Chardon or West Geauga schools, trustees said.

McMullen asked if it was legal for a township to contribute to help pay for an SRO. King said Chardon Township checked with their legal counsel and was told it was.

“There are plenty of Munson students in Chardon Schools,” said Trustee Todd Ray.

King said the SRO would include Munson Elementary School in his visits.

Ray asked if the cost of funding and the townships’ contributions might increase and Sharpe said the city doesn’t expect costs to go up more than a few hundred dollars.

Trustees did not vote on King’s request.