Posted on September 19, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The North Judson-San Pierre School Board took another major step toward securing a School Resource Officer by approving a Memorandum of Understanding related to the position when members met Tuesday night.
Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin explained that officials were recently notified that funds awarded through the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Secured School Safety Grant will help cover fifty-percent of the SRO’s salary.
As some details are still being finalized, the NJPD officer who will serve as the SRO couldn’t be introduced to board members just yet. However, Dr. Zupin said efforts are being made to ensure that they’ll find the right fit for the position.
The School Resource Officer is expected to hit the hallways at NJ-SP in January. In the meantime, Town Marshal Kelly Fisher and other North Judson officers work closely with school officials to ensure safety all year round.
Showing posts with label School Resource Officer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label School Resource Officer. Show all posts
Thursday, September 19, 2019
Thursday, August 29, 2019
SRO Update Provided to North Judson-San Pierre School Board
Posted on August 29, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre School Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin took time during the school board’s most recent meeting to provide an update about the School Resource Officer position.
She noted that the Memorandum of Understanding is currently being worked on so the position won’t be up for the school board’s approval until their meeting in September.
However, Dr. Zupin did say that Town officials already provided their approval for the position at a recent town council meeting.
She told members, “They will pay for the benefits, the equipment, the training, the car, all of that, and the school will take care of the salary piece of that.”
Zupin mentioned that the Corporation has applied for an Indiana Department of Homeland Security Secured School Safety Grant to help fund the position but added that the position has been budgeted for just in case the grant funding is not received.
She explained that the SRO will have an office in each building and will help with altercations, home visits, and attendance and will even be able to cite students for vaping.
Dr. Zupin said that in September, the MOU will be presented and the School Resource Officer will be introduced to board members.
From September through December, the officer will work closely with administrators on logistics and scheduling, review maps and crisis plans and do some walk throughs with Maintenance Director Wilbur Collins to get familiarized with the campus.
Zupin noted that the addition of the SRO will build on some of the other initiatives related to student safety that were put in place last school year.
She shared, “I think last year we solidified the layers of preventive and proactive; we have the social worker that’s three times a week and we have Bowen Center come in and help, those are school safety measures and so this adds that layer of protection and school security.”
Dr. Zupin said that the goal is to have the SRO patrolling the halls in January of 2020.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
North Judson-San Pierre School Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin took time during the school board’s most recent meeting to provide an update about the School Resource Officer position.
She noted that the Memorandum of Understanding is currently being worked on so the position won’t be up for the school board’s approval until their meeting in September.
However, Dr. Zupin did say that Town officials already provided their approval for the position at a recent town council meeting.
She told members, “They will pay for the benefits, the equipment, the training, the car, all of that, and the school will take care of the salary piece of that.”
Zupin mentioned that the Corporation has applied for an Indiana Department of Homeland Security Secured School Safety Grant to help fund the position but added that the position has been budgeted for just in case the grant funding is not received.
She explained that the SRO will have an office in each building and will help with altercations, home visits, and attendance and will even be able to cite students for vaping.
Dr. Zupin said that in September, the MOU will be presented and the School Resource Officer will be introduced to board members.
From September through December, the officer will work closely with administrators on logistics and scheduling, review maps and crisis plans and do some walk throughs with Maintenance Director Wilbur Collins to get familiarized with the campus.
Zupin noted that the addition of the SRO will build on some of the other initiatives related to student safety that were put in place last school year.
She shared, “I think last year we solidified the layers of preventive and proactive; we have the social worker that’s three times a week and we have Bowen Center come in and help, those are school safety measures and so this adds that layer of protection and school security.”
Dr. Zupin said that the goal is to have the SRO patrolling the halls in January of 2020.
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
North Judson Town Marshal Discusses SRO Position with Town Council
Posted on August 7, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
North Judson Town Marshal Kelly Fisher provided an update for the School Resource Officer position when town council members met Monday night.
Marshal Fisher came before the council looking for formal approval for the SRO position, noting that NJ-SP is currently the only Starke County school without one.
Despite the absence of an SRO, it should be noted that Marshal Fisher and Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin have each highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Police Department and the School Corporation during past town council and school board meetings, respectively.
The introduction of an SRO into the school system will be a continuation of the existing relationship.
Fisher noted that she’s coordinated with Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe about budgeting for the position. She mentioned that the cost to fund the position will be a total of $62,262. 49.
The Town would be responsible for $13,187.61 while the school would split their portion into two payments of $24,537.44 for a total payment of $49,074.88.
Fisher noted that school officials are looking to secure some grant funding to help cover their portion but have also accounted for the position in their own budget if the financial assistance is not received.
Fisher explained that the SRO would have an office at the Elementary School as well as the Middle High School and would perform duties in both buildings.
She went on to tell members how the SRO’s schedule would be divided up between the school and the town.
She noted, “It’s a 180 days/36 weeks that the School Resource Officer will be in the school and then the remainder we figured out there’s 80 days/16 weeks that the officer will work for the town.”
Fisher noted that she thinks having this additional position will help cut down on having to pay for overtime and part-time shifts.
The town council provided unanimous approval for Marshal Fisher to keep working on the SRO position. She mentioned that while nothing is finalized, they’re considering utilizing an officer who’s already on the force as the SRO.
Over the next few months, officials will be working to finalize the details surrounding the position in order to ensure that it’s successfully implemented. The hope is to have an SRO in the NJ-SP hallways by January.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
North Judson Town Marshal Kelly Fisher provided an update for the School Resource Officer position when town council members met Monday night.
Marshal Fisher came before the council looking for formal approval for the SRO position, noting that NJ-SP is currently the only Starke County school without one.
Despite the absence of an SRO, it should be noted that Marshal Fisher and Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin have each highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the Police Department and the School Corporation during past town council and school board meetings, respectively.
The introduction of an SRO into the school system will be a continuation of the existing relationship.
Fisher noted that she’s coordinated with Clerk-Treasurer Andrew Rowe about budgeting for the position. She mentioned that the cost to fund the position will be a total of $62,262. 49.
The Town would be responsible for $13,187.61 while the school would split their portion into two payments of $24,537.44 for a total payment of $49,074.88.
Fisher noted that school officials are looking to secure some grant funding to help cover their portion but have also accounted for the position in their own budget if the financial assistance is not received.
Fisher explained that the SRO would have an office at the Elementary School as well as the Middle High School and would perform duties in both buildings.
She went on to tell members how the SRO’s schedule would be divided up between the school and the town.
She noted, “It’s a 180 days/36 weeks that the School Resource Officer will be in the school and then the remainder we figured out there’s 80 days/16 weeks that the officer will work for the town.”
Fisher noted that she thinks having this additional position will help cut down on having to pay for overtime and part-time shifts.
The town council provided unanimous approval for Marshal Fisher to keep working on the SRO position. She mentioned that while nothing is finalized, they’re considering utilizing an officer who’s already on the force as the SRO.
Over the next few months, officials will be working to finalize the details surrounding the position in order to ensure that it’s successfully implemented. The hope is to have an SRO in the NJ-SP hallways by January.
Friday, May 31, 2019
Discussions Continue over Possible North Judson-San Pierre School Resource Officer
Posted on May 31, 2019
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKV
North Judson-San Pierre could have a school resource officer sometime next school year. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin told the school board last week that they’re still in the exploratory phase, but discussions with Town Marshal Kelly Fisher are moving along quickly.
“The town is in support of this and the police department is in support of this, and she also is aware of some grants that are now available,” Zupin said. “So right now, we are in discussion, investigating, and planning with the town. I don’t have much more than that at this point, but we are moving quickly on this, to see if we can get somebody, either at the beginning of the year or halfway through the year.”
Zupin said the idea is that the officer would be shared between the elementary and junior/senior high schools. But before any official plans are finalized, she said she wants to make sure the officer would fit in with the the proactive safety initiatives N.J.-S.P. has already put in place, like the new secure entrances and the school-based social worker. “Most people think it’s to keep armed people out, but there’s so many other things to do,” Zupin explained. “And it’s to help build relationships so that they have somebody to go to. It may be to go do home visits to talk about attendance and deliver attendance letters, truancy issues, because all of those issues build up to the student who is troubled and may do something.”
Board Member Derrick Stalbaum said that at the school corporation where he works, the school resource officer has a positive impact on the school’s day-to-day operations. He noted that the officer is an advocate for students in many ways, but also adds a sense of seriousness to fights and vaping incidents.
Going forward, Zupin said there are still some logistical issues to be worked out, including how the new position would be financed and where specifically the officer would be placed.
Author Michael Gallenberger, WKV
North Judson-San Pierre could have a school resource officer sometime next school year. Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin told the school board last week that they’re still in the exploratory phase, but discussions with Town Marshal Kelly Fisher are moving along quickly.
“The town is in support of this and the police department is in support of this, and she also is aware of some grants that are now available,” Zupin said. “So right now, we are in discussion, investigating, and planning with the town. I don’t have much more than that at this point, but we are moving quickly on this, to see if we can get somebody, either at the beginning of the year or halfway through the year.”
Zupin said the idea is that the officer would be shared between the elementary and junior/senior high schools. But before any official plans are finalized, she said she wants to make sure the officer would fit in with the the proactive safety initiatives N.J.-S.P. has already put in place, like the new secure entrances and the school-based social worker. “Most people think it’s to keep armed people out, but there’s so many other things to do,” Zupin explained. “And it’s to help build relationships so that they have somebody to go to. It may be to go do home visits to talk about attendance and deliver attendance letters, truancy issues, because all of those issues build up to the student who is troubled and may do something.”
Board Member Derrick Stalbaum said that at the school corporation where he works, the school resource officer has a positive impact on the school’s day-to-day operations. He noted that the officer is an advocate for students in many ways, but also adds a sense of seriousness to fights and vaping incidents.
Going forward, Zupin said there are still some logistical issues to be worked out, including how the new position would be financed and where specifically the officer would be placed.
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Potential Addition of SRO Discussed at NJ Town Council Meeting
Posted on May 9, 2019
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The North Judson Police Department is currently looking into the option of adding a School Resource Officer to the force.
Town Marshal Kelly Fisher shared some information about the possibility when members met Monday night.
She explained, “That will put an officer in the school during the school year and how the town will benefit from it is any day that the school is off, during summer breaks, fall breaks, snow days, we’ll have that officer available to work with the department.”
Marshal Fisher explained that the officer would alternate between schools and said she’s spoken with Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin who indicated that she’s in favor moving forward with the idea.
Town Council President John Rowe asked for some clarification about the position.
He shared, “Let’s just say hypothetically one of our officers wanted to do it, then we’d have to go through the process of hiring a full-time officer on our end, correct?”
Fisher confirmed that would be the case and added that’s one of the reasons she is presenting the idea to council members now even though the SRO wouldn’t be hitting the hallways until the next school year.
PD officials want to make sure they have enough time to adequately research the position and fill any open spots if necessary.
She spoke a bit about the financial aspect of the proposal, noting that the police department would put about $13,000 toward the SRO’s pay. She added that school officials have said potential grant funding could help cover the remainder of the cost.
Town Attorney Justin Schramm said it would be beneficial to have an inter-local agreement in place to address all the various facets of the dual-purpose position.
Marshal Fisher said she will continue to do research and added that she’s coordinating with Knox Police Chief Harold Smith as well as KHS Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratfliff and Knox SRO Travis Schieber since they all went through the process recently.
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI
The North Judson Police Department is currently looking into the option of adding a School Resource Officer to the force.
Town Marshal Kelly Fisher shared some information about the possibility when members met Monday night.
She explained, “That will put an officer in the school during the school year and how the town will benefit from it is any day that the school is off, during summer breaks, fall breaks, snow days, we’ll have that officer available to work with the department.”
Marshal Fisher explained that the officer would alternate between schools and said she’s spoken with Superintendent Dr. Annette Zupin who indicated that she’s in favor moving forward with the idea.
Town Council President John Rowe asked for some clarification about the position.
He shared, “Let’s just say hypothetically one of our officers wanted to do it, then we’d have to go through the process of hiring a full-time officer on our end, correct?”
Fisher confirmed that would be the case and added that’s one of the reasons she is presenting the idea to council members now even though the SRO wouldn’t be hitting the hallways until the next school year.
PD officials want to make sure they have enough time to adequately research the position and fill any open spots if necessary.
She spoke a bit about the financial aspect of the proposal, noting that the police department would put about $13,000 toward the SRO’s pay. She added that school officials have said potential grant funding could help cover the remainder of the cost.
Town Attorney Justin Schramm said it would be beneficial to have an inter-local agreement in place to address all the various facets of the dual-purpose position.
Marshal Fisher said she will continue to do research and added that she’s coordinating with Knox Police Chief Harold Smith as well as KHS Principal Dr. Elizabeth Ratfliff and Knox SRO Travis Schieber since they all went through the process recently.
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