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Rundlett Middle School principal renews push for a school resource officer amid board concern
Summary
The middle school principal asked the board to fund a school resource officer (SRO) to build relationships, support safety and assist with home visits; some board members questioned whether the role duplicates social-worker functions and raised cost and civil-society concerns.
Runlett Rundlett Middle School Principal Jay Richards asked the Concord School Board to include funding for a school resource officer (SRO) in the budget, arguing the position would support relationship building, preventive work and safety operations at the middle school.
"I just think it's time in in a good fit for my school community," Richards said, describing incidents where outside visitors on school grounds and substance-related reports led staff to seek additional supports. He emphasized that, in his view, the SRO should not replace social workers: "I don't see an SRO taking over the responsibility of a social worker. It's just a different role and responsibility."
Board members pressed for clearer role definitions and evidence. Several asked whether prevention curricula, social-work staffing and student-assistance (SAP) programs already in place would cover the needs Richards cited. One board member said she could not justify a proposed roughly $101,000 cost when other positions are being reduced, and asked for a formal job description that differentiates the SRO role from existing social-work functions.
Richards said he has observed benefits in other similar-sized districts and asked the board to consider a pilot or to allow him to test the role and report back. He said he would provide documentation and a clearer job description to explain duties, restrictions and safeguards.
No funding decision was made at the session. Board members asked staff to return with a written SRO job description, comparisons to comparable districts, data on calls for police assistance at the middle school in the prior year, and input from social-work staff and the SAP counselor on role boundaries.
