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Board hears new elementary SRO introduction; district pursuing PCCD grant to offset SRO costs
Summary
Mr. Cole introduced Detective Jamie Samuels as the district's new elementary SRO and said the district plans to apply for a PCCD noncompetitive grant that could provide about $143,000 over two years to offset roughly $64,000 in annual costs associated with expanding SRO coverage from one to two officers.
Mr. Cole reviewed a recent memorandum of understanding that increased the district's number of school resource officers from one to two and introduced "Detective Jamie Samuels," whom he said will serve as the elementary SRO and split time between Pine Road and Murray Avenue schools.
Cole described Samuels's training and duties: "She has received NASRO training ... she is also trained in crisis intervention and de escalation, and she is a CPR instructor," he said, and noted Samuels's prior involvement in community programs such as COPS Reading to Kids. The administration said having an additional SRO increases on-site capacity for emergency response, safety planning and age-appropriate instruction.
On funding, Cole told the board that the district expects an annual increase of approximately $64,000 for the additional SRO but that the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) has issued a noncompetitive grant opportunity that the district plans to apply for; Cole estimated that grant eligibility could yield about $143,000 usable to offset those salaries over the next two years.
Cabinet members and administrators praised the decision as a value add for student safety and daily operations. No formal vote or action was recorded at tonight's meeting; the board previously approved the MOU on May 21, and the administration said it will proceed with the grant application and onboarding for Detective Samuels.
