The Salem Community High School Board Monday night gave unanimous tentative approval to a three year extension of the school resource officer program.
Superintendent Dr. Brad Detering says he cannot imagine not having the program.
“I know the students and staff here see value in it and know it makes the parents feel a lot more comfortable. And we just have an outstanding SRO with Officer Viera who has went to great lengths to build relationships with kids. They don’t really see him as a police officer, they just see him as part of the staff. Officer V.”
Detering explained the school district will be paying more under the new contract, with their share of the cost increasing to 75-percent of salary and benefits of an officer with Vieira’s years of experience. In the first three years, the schools were paying 66-percent of a starting officer’s salary and benefits. Detering says the contract will allow the police department still to have the School Resource Officer available for duty in the summer and other times school is not in session.
The Salem Grade School Board will consider entering into a new three year contract with the SRO program when they meet Thursday night.
