At Monday’s meeting (1-25-10), the two School Resource Officers used by the Van Buren Public Schools were approved by the school board for two more weeks – until the Feb. 8 school board meeting when a decision will be made whether they will stay or go.
Acting School Supt. Peggy Voigt pointed out that at its Oct. 25 meeting, the school board approved the SRO for the first semester. The second semester started Monday.
Voigt said the cost to fund the program through the end of the 2009-10 school year would be an additional $32,000, which would come out of the general fund.
She recommended it would be most beneficial for the students to keep the program in place until the end of this school year and she would like to re-evaluate it for the 2010-11 school year and look at other programs/options if the district does not have the funds available.
The discussion started after Trustee Brenda McClanahan said she would like to table the recommendation to give the board time to get information from RACY (Resources for Assisting Community Youth).
“We don’t know exactly what we’re paying for. We have nothing in writing,” she said.
Trustee Bob Binert said school administrators were supposed to meet with Belleville and Van Buren Township police to evaluate the services.
“Are we paying half the annual costs? I don’t know that,” said Trustee Martha Toth.
Binert said the SROs are paid for the school year and then they revert to their regular duties.
“We all agree it’s a good program … enhancing the education of our students and safety … But I would like the breakdown,” Binert said.
Edgemont Principal Karen Mida, who serves on the RACY board, said RACY has come before the board many times and would be glad to come again with whatever information the board wants.
Since the DARE program, which morphed into the SRO, was started with a federal grant, the money has been funneled through RACY as its fiduciary agent.
Mida pointed out that RACY has yet to receive last year’s $34,000 promised from the school district, or the $34,000 for the first semester.
“As of last Friday we have not received that money,” Mida said.
Trustee McClanahan said the first $34,000 payment was authorized last July by the school board and board members wanted to know why it wasn’t paid. No one knew.
“RACY cannot afford to continue as fiduciary, if it’s never paid … That bill was presented to Angie or someone else in the business office last spring,” Mida said.
“We never committed to this year,” said board president David Peer.
Mida said the late School Supt. Pete Lazaroff gave his word, but it was not in writing. She said Van Buren Township dedicates one police officer, Ryan Bidwell, to school work, but Belleville Officer Kris Faull can be pulled out when needed elsewhere.
The board approved the SROs for the first semester and it was up to the board to decide by the end of the semester if the program would continue, Mida said.
McClanahan said she wanted to see some numbers and Finance Director Nick Armelagos said he would check to see if RACY’s bill was submitted last spring.
“If the Belleville officer can be pulled away, how many hours are we paying for?” asked Peer.
“We didn’t pay last year and not for the first semester,” said Trustee Toni Hunt. “We’re running up a hefty tab here.”
“Maybe we need $60,000 worth of textbooks more than we need SRO,” said Trustee Martha Toth. “It’s a hard decision to make.”
Trustee Binert suggested Voigt set up a meeting with RACY, Van Buren and Belleville Police public safety director / police chief, and a couple of board members to discuss the situation.
Mida said the cost is prorated and the officers have a specific time to be on duty in the schools. She added that Officer Bidwell also is doing what he can at Rawsonville Elementary, which is in Washtenaw County.
Brooke Ballee, principal of Elwell Elementary in Sumpter Township, said “Sumpter Township Police have been awesome. They come out regularly and any time we call.” She added several officers gave her their cell phone numbers so she can call them directly. “We feel very safe.”
Peer noted that Sumpter provides the service to the school without additional charge.
Toth said that a high school is harder to service than an elementary school. She said the board, at that point, had not approved the officers to walk in the door of the school the next day.
“They might get paid; they might not get paid,” Toth said of the situation.
“If we owe them anything for last year, we should pay,” said Peer. “We should pay for the first semester.
“Mr. Armelagos, pay them,” Peer ordered.
“Beginning tomorrow there is no further commitment for SRO,” Peer added. “Technically, they could pull the officers starting tomorrow until we make that decision.”
Binert said Voigt should tell Belleville and VBT that the district is not supporting SRO until “this is clear” and report to them what happened that evening.
“I would like it to go day by day,” Hunt said.
Assistant BHS Principal Debra Cooper asked the board for guidance about how to handle the issues that came up earlier Monday at the school. She asked should administrators call dispatch and ask for an officer to be sent out?
Peer said the SRO officers show up at dances, basketball games, and summer school, as well as during the school day.
“I don’t think we’re paying too much for what we get, but there is no paperwork,” Peer said.
Hunt made the motion to keep the SROs on a day-to-day basis for two weeks until the board meets again. Binert seconded and the motion passed 6-1, with Toth voting no.
“It’s not fair to cut them off at the knees,” Hunt said of the SRO.
In other business at Monday’s meeting, the school board:
* Approved on a 6-1 vote the April 21-30, 2011 field trip to France and Spain by BHS students. Hunt said she has concerns over the world situation and there’s no way she can guarantee the safety of the students. “I can’t vote yes. I can’t tell the parents by my vote that I think they will be safe”;
* Heard Acting Supt. Voigt read praise of the school board during School Board Recognition Month in Michigan. She said Peer has 19 years of service; Binert, 6 years; Hunt, 5 years; Hogan, 7 years; Toth, 18 years; McClanahan, 1 year; and English, who is newly elected;
* Approved with unanimous votes six proposals for name changes, program chances and textbooks at BHS, as presented by Assistant Principal Cooper. Textbook requests totaled some $60,000. Cooper will bring the exact cost back to the board, after a committee studies the textbooks;
* Approved participation in the Michigan School Readiness Program for the 2009-10 school year which would bring in $244,800 for 72 eligible four-year-old children;
* Watched two video presentations on the problems with income from Act 18 millage and some proposals on what Wayne RESA can do to cut costs. A part of the presentation was a July 1, 2012 mock bill for $815,215.96 to the district for special education costs if things don’t change;
* Discussed investigation of a proposed plan for service consolidation to save categorical money, that, it turns out, would save only $155.40, which the board agreed wasn’t worth the trouble to go through all that was needed with that result;
* Heard Voigt report that she has been unable to reach the superintendent of the Genesee County Intermediate School District to get specific information about setting up a visioning session, as directed by the board during the Jan. 21 workshop session. Toth said she would like to find out how much it would cost and what that would equal in books;
* Approved the requested termination of John Rice as a bus driver after 4.5 years of service for personal reasons; and the hiring of Stephanie Mikulski as Secretary III-10 hours, at ECDC, at pay of $10.98/hour;
* Approved the requested termination of Debra Bondy after .5 years in alternative education as of Jan. 22, for personal reasons; and Kathleen Jacobs, a teacher at Elwell Elementary for 19 years, due to her death;
* Approved the hiring of Michelle Conrad as a GSRP teacher at ECDC at a pay of $28.40 per hour; and
* Learned the next regular board meeting on Feb. 8 will feature two months worth of Students of the Month, Boys and Girls Club recognition, and SRO information.