Number of deputies as SROs likely to rise in 2023-24

The Delaware County Sheriff’s Workplace has 11 college useful resource officers in native public colleges, a quantity that is more likely to improve in 2023-24.

Chief Deputy Dave Wiseman of the sheriff’s workplace briefed the Delaware County commissioners on the standing of this system when commissioners on Might 16 accepted resource-officer intergovernmental agreements with the varsity districts.

Wiseman mentioned Huge Walnut Native Faculties and the Delaware Space Profession Middle have one officer every, Buckeye Valley Native Faculties has two and Olentangy Faculties has seven – one every for its 4 excessive colleges and three overlaying center and elementary buildings.

Olentangy and the sheriff’s workplace have mentioned a attainable improve within the district’s useful resource officers when the brand new Berlin Center College opens in August 2023, Wiseman informed the commissioners.

The brand new constructing would be the district’s sixth center college, constructed on 45 acres alongside Piatt Highway, south of Olentangy Berlin Excessive College, in Berlin Township. 

Amanda Beeman, Olentangy’s assistant director of communications, declined to take a position on the variety of officers that is likely to be added when the brand new college opens.

“Our objective is to have an SRO assigned to each highschool and center college, with the center college positions having concurrent accountability for the elementary colleges, as properly,” she mentioned.

The officers play an essential function within the colleges, mentioned Joe Suozzi, Olentangy’s director of security, safety and preparedness.

“College useful resource officers act within the function of mentor, casual counselor and law-enforcement skilled in our colleges,” he mentioned. “We consider our SROs create a optimistic studying atmosphere the place our lecturers really feel protected to show and our college students really feel protected to study.”

Beeman mentioned the brand new college ought to maintain about 1,000 college students.

“Nonetheless, the preliminary enrollment dimension of the varsity has not been decided. The redistricting course of for Berlin Center College will start late this summer time,” she mentioned.

The college was made attainable by voter approval in 2020 of a mixed $134.7 million bond situation, a 0.5-mill permanent-improvements levy and a 7.4-mill working levy.

Price estimates have elevated prior to now few years, Beeman mentioned.

“The estimated constructing price for this center college was $46 million in 2019. (Services director Jeff) Gordon offered an replace on the June 10, 2021, assembly that the precise constructing price in 2021 was estimated at $48 million,” she mentioned. 

Wiseman mentioned the commissioners’ Might 16 decision was a renewal of three-year contracts set to run out June 30.

“There have been will increase within the space of wages and insurance coverage,” Wiseman mentioned. “Wages due to a rise of deputy wages from the collective-bargaining settlement and insurance coverage with the fee being greater.”

Underneath the agreements, the county and faculty districts agree to separate the annual price of every officer, he mentioned, including that annual wages and advantages common $129,990 for every officer.

County commissioner Barb Lewis on Might 16 known as the varsity useful resource officers an essential program. 

“The SROs simply do a beautiful job, and I all the time hear nice issues,” she mentioned. “You already know, (a) calming affect and for the scholars, too, the questions they will ask and the assistance that they will get.”

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