Even during summer, work doesn’t stop for the West Geauga Schools, as officials continue to hammer out safety agreements with area law enforcement for the 2023-2024 school year.
Even during summer, work doesn’t stop for West Geauga Schools, as officials continue to hammer out safety agreements with area law enforcement for the 2023-2024 school year.
West Geauga Schools Board of Education members approved two agreements June 26 with both Chester Township and Russell Township police departments to provide patrol and safety officers in the district’s school buildings.
Superintendent Richard Markwardt said he is pleased with the partnerships.
“I think having an armed officer in each school is one of our best protective strategies,” he said. “These individuals will not only offer security but will serve as an educational and community resource for our students and their families.”
At the April 24 meeting of the board Markwardt — along with Chester and Russell township police officials — discussed security initiatives put into place following a shooting scare April 3 at West Geauga High School, and ensuing pressure from parents for stronger safety measures in the district.
Senior Brandon Michael Morrissette, 18, was arrested that day after coming to the school with a handgun and plans to shoot multiple students.
Markwardt noted having a school resource officer is vital to averting a shooting, and expanding the district’s SRO presence has been an ongoing conversation, even prior to April 3.
The agreement with Russell Township will span three years, from July 1 of 2023 through June 30 of 2026, while Chester’s agreement will be for a single school year and may be renewed on an annual basis.
Chester police will provide one sworn, uniformed member of the department to serve as the full-time school patrol officer throughout the district and two school safety officers commissioned as part-time regular police officers will serve under the guidance of the SPO.
“The main difference between the two is that our SRO with the high school kind of coordinates everything. He is fully dedicated to the school. When the summer months hit, he’s still dedicated to the school,” Chester Township Police Chief Craig Young said. “That individual will work on projects for the upcoming school year, finish up projects from the existing school year, work active shooter training and different types of training scenarios.”
One safety officer from Russell Township will be assigned to Westwood Elementary School and will be considered a school resource officer under the district’s SRO program.
Markwardt said since Westwood is located in Russell Township that department was asked to be involved, as conversations with Chester evolved.
“(Russell police) were enthusiastic participants in the discussions,” Markwardt said. “We will now have a police officer in every one of our buildings. Both elementary buildings, the middle school and the high school.”
West Geauga will pay Russell Township a total of $364,400 for the three-year agreement and will compensate Chester police department in an amount not to exceed $131,000 annually for one SPO position and $102,000 annually for each SSO position.
Any negotiated pay increase over the base SSO pay of $58,000 per year will be absorbed by Russell Township. The Chester Township school patrol officer will be tasked with school security, criminal violations and investigations, as well as planning and training pursuant to the latest accepted school security standards, according to the agreement.
“The SPO will coordinate with district safety officers to reduce redundancy in security assignments to streamline effective communication regarding security matters, as well as be responsible for other duties required or assigned by the township,” the Chester agreement read.
Chester safety officers will also be available to provide services at other school sites and special events in the district, including the primary responsibility for door security.
“The SSOs also will be tasked with addressing immediate threats directed toward personnel, students or visitors of the West Geauga school district and will report potential criminal investigations to the SPO,” the Chester agreement read. “Any criminal investigative reports written by an SSO shall also be submitted to the police department and employees will be responsible for other duties as required or assigned by the township.”
Markwardt said the officers will be in place prior to the start of school in August.
“There is no absolute guarantee of safety. Violence can threaten a school, church, concert, shopping mall, grocery store or any public venue as recent events prove. It’s important that each of us does our part to report potential dangers when we see them,” Markwardt said. “Having armed police officers in each of our schools gives us one more layer of protection and a highly valuable tool in our safety arsenal.”
“It’s something we knew we were always going to be able to accomplish,” Young said. “We think it’s a good agreement between the police department and the schools, and we think most importantly it’s a tremendous value for the teachers, faculty and students.”
Markwardt said the agreement reflects the commitment of everyone involved.
“We are very grateful to the trustees of the townships who were willing to enter into this partnership with us,” he said.
