Council approves pilot school-resource-officer model and contract with district
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Summary
Council adopted changes to personnel policy and an emergency ordinance (2025-148) to fund a school-resource-officer pilot and authorized a contract (2025-149) with the Stow‑Falls City School District to place a dedicated officer in schools under a fiscally smaller model than a full-time dedicated officer at every school.
Council approved an amendment to personnel policy (Ordinance 2025-148) to create a fiscally scalable pilot for school resource officers (SROs) and adopted Ordinance 2025-149 authorizing the mayor to enter a security-service contract with the Stow‑Falls City School District.
Council members and the police chief said the model is intended to be fiscally responsible while improving school safety. Council President Feldman and others noted national evidence (citing a 2019 Secret Service article) that having officers embedded in schools helps stop incidents early and that some nearby jurisdictions have placed SROs in every school. The proposed local pilot will allow cooperative planning between police and schools, emergency action plan alignment, and an on‑site presence for prevention and immediate response.
Council adopted the ordinances by roll call after brief discussion; the administration and school representatives expressed support. Council members said the pilot is a first step toward a broader approach and emphasized that detailed implementation (coverage schedule, training, and funding) will be addressed in the contract and operating budget processes.