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Prescott Protect volunteer program expands alongside grant‑funded SROs and mental‑health staff
Summary
The Prescott Unified School District heard an update from volunteer coordinator Andy Stickle on Aug. 5 about the Prescott Protect program, reporting roughly 400 volunteer hours last year, new full‑time SRO assignments and grant applications to sustain and expand school safety resources.
Andy Stickle, who coordinates the community volunteer group Prescott Protect, told the Prescott Unified School District governing board on Aug. 5 that the volunteer pilot has grown and been integrated with newly funded school resource officers and mental‑health positions.
"So I thought it'd be best to kinda do a, where we were, where we are, and where we're headed with the, Prescott Protect volunteer program," Stickle said, summarizing the program's background and expansion. He said the pilot began in 2023 at Prescott High School and Mile High Middle School and that volunteers provided about 243 hours during the 2023–24 school year and close to 400 hours in 2024–25.
The update said the district moved from one SRO two years ago to three full‑time SROs districtwide and a rotating 4‑hour shift presence at elementary sites provided by local police agencies. Stickle named Officer Holmes as the high‑school SRO and Officer Andrew Levin as the Mile High Middle School SRO; he also said Officer Storga of the Prescott Police Department will be assigned full time to Granite Mountain this school year.
Stickle described three grant sources under development or in use: a school safety program continuation grant, a "stronger connections" grant and a school safety program mini grant. He said the mini grant funded the full‑time SRO at Granite Mountain and a social worker position at Mile High.
Superintendent Clark and district staff described the volunteer role as supplemental: perimeter walks, radioed presence and an extra set of eyes for staff. School principals and board members praised the program as a community partnership, and board members noted positive feedback from parents and staff about the visible presence of SROs and the district's mental‑health supports.
"When community members are invested with their time in our schools, it only makes us better," said Missy Townsend (identified in discussion as a district principal supporter), echoing comments relayed by Stickle and other district staff.
Board members and staff gave examples of how on‑site SROs and volunteers aided incident response: Stickle recounted an episode in which Officer Levin responded to an online threat and quickly engaged the family, and another where an on‑site SRO coordinated a lockdown during a nearby police incident. The board did not take a formal vote on Prescott Protect during the meeting; the presentation was informational and drew requests for continued community outreach and volunteer recruitment.
District staff and Stickle encouraged interested residents to contact school administrators for volunteer screening and scheduling. The district said it will continue applying for federal and state grants to sustain the added SRO and social‑work funding.
The board discussion underscored two priorities: (1) sustaining grant funding that covers personnel costs and (2) coordinating volunteers with school administrators and on‑site law enforcement so volunteers act as supplemental, non‑disciplinary monitors.
The presentation closed with board members thanking Stickle and the volunteer corps for their time and coordination with school staff.
