MCS May Look into Hiring School Resource or Safety Officer

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh Central School may hire a school resource officer or school safety officer for the 2027-28 school year.

Superintendent Mark Place and school board members at the April 15 meeting discussed the advantages and disadvantages of hiring an SRO or SSO.

Nothing was decided and board President Pam Standhart asked that the district to reach out to local law enforcement agencies to engage in a conversation about having a more consistent presence in the schools by walk of regular walkthroughs.

The district, Mr. Place said, is engaging with local law enforcement to increase the frequency of visits before they explore employing either an SRO or SSO. The question will remain on the table for the 2027-28 school year during budget development which starts in November.

Schoharie Central School has an SRO which is hired through the county Sheriff's office.

Mr. Place outlined the details of what both an SRO and SSO can provide the district.

A school resource officer:

* Cannot enforce school rules.

* Requires a memorandum of understanding with the county.

* Is not a district employee.

* Projected cost of $108,000, according to the 2025-26 SCS contract, which would increase the tax levy by 1.02 percent.

With an SRO, a search warrant would be needed to search a locker and they do not help with discipline, Mr. Place said.

A school safety officer:

* Maintains order and compliance with the school district’s code of conduct, policies, rules and regulations.

* Would be a district employee and part of the collective bargaining agreement.

* Projected maximum cost: $89,868 (based on $40,000 salary and family benefits).

* Tax levy impact of 0.85 percent.

The SSO can help in the discipline process, Mr. Place said. He also noted that district officials can search a locker or other area with a reason. An SSO would likely be a retired police officer. An SSO can help with a conflict and help resolve it, Mr. Place added,

He also added that the district rarely ever seeks charges, though an individual can.

School board members did not agree on which to pursue, if any.

Board member Becky Binder said an SRO is "not a military person" that would "drag some someone away." The SRO would report to the principal.

It is important to find the right person, Ms. Binder said.

Teacher Jen Rehberg noted that a lot of students see police "as enemies."

An SSO can enforce school rules but the county would have to add the position to civil service jobs, which could take about a year. 

Board member Vicki Hoerz suggested having someone from Herkimer County, which has the position in civil service, speak to the board.

Board member Wes Andrew said the district could speak with SCS about how it is going with an SRO.

"There's a lot of unknowns," Mr. Place said.

The Superintendent did note that the number of suicides among teenagers from 14 to 18 is much higher that the number of students who die in shootings. The rate of suicides is about nine per 100,000 and there are about 1,952 per year.

"If our goal is to keep students safe," Mr. Place said, "we have to focus both on what is most visible, and what is most likely."