The Salem Grade School Board Thursday night approved a new contract to keep the School Resource Officer in place another three years and agreed to make transitional kindergarten fulltime starting next school year.
Superintendent Dr. Leslie Foppe says the first three years of the school resource officer program have gone extremely well.
“I see quite a few benefits. The safety of our district and buildings. The assistance when needed as situations occur. Training, active shooter training and just him being visible and accessible when we do have a situation and need to call him in. And I know that the staff, students and parents feel safer with the officer here. And it helps builds a positive relationship with the police at an early age.”
Foppe says it has also been helpful in transitioning eighth graders to high school where they have another SRO to work with. Under the contract with the Salem Police Department, the school district will pick up 75-percent of the cost of the school resource officer instead of 66-percent in the past. Ryan Meador will remain as the school resource officer. Salem High School earlier this week gave unanimous tentative approval to keeping their SRO contract in place.
The school board gave final approval to starting full time transitional kindergarten in the fall. The idea was praised by both board members and teachers at the March meeting who felt the program could be more effective for children being fulltime.
Foppe also announced the district’s transportation contract will be put out for bid for the next school year. She admits numerous issues with the current contractor Durham, but noted the local manager was working hard with the district. Foppe added the shortage of bus drivers was certainly not limited to the Salem Grade School District.
Foppe noted the concern of their contract management firm of getting the HVAC system for the new multi-purpose building at Hawthorn as scheduled on July 18th. She says if there is a delay, the new building may not be ready for the start of school. Foppe says major improvements at Franklin Park are ready to begin as soon as the school year ends.
Foppe was pleased the district would be receiving $103,249 in extra state aid by the end of their fiscal year June 30th following the discovery of a calculation error by the Illinois State Board of Education that had given too much money to the Chicago City Schools.
Two students were brought before the board to be honored with special awards. Miranda Dailey was honored as the Regional Office of Education Marion County Spelling Bee champion and Millie Trinkle as the Principal Association’s student of the year for Hawthorn School.
The board accepted the resignation of Ethan Maxey as head boys basketball coach and Cory Harris as head cross country and track coach.
