Last month, the North Royalton City Council approved legislation to add a fourth School Resource Officer (SRO) to the complement of the North Royalton Police Department. This time, the officer won’t be reporting to the North Royalton School District, but to St. Albert the Great Catholic School. According to Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz, the cost of this SRO, including benefits, will be paid for by St. Albert the Great for the nine months in service to that school.
SROs are police officers who work in the schools, along with school administrators, faculty and security staff members in an effort to ensure that schools are safe places for students. According to that legislation, it states that “The mission of the SRO Program is to encourage school safety by building a positive school climate. The SRO Program, among other things, provides for Drug Use Prevention education delivered by a police officer and seeks to reduce violent crime committed by and against youth in our community. The SRO Program aides in this mission by supporting safe, secure, and orderly learning environments for students, teachers, and staff. The SRO will establish a trusting channel of communication with the school’s administration, students, parents, and teachers and establish discipline or punish students. The SRO will serve as a positive role model to instill in students good moral standards, good judgement and discretion, respect for other students, and a concern for the School community. The SRO will provide information on community resources available to students and parents.”
The full-time SROs will have complete SRO duties during the school year. In the summer, they will be utilized with other police duties. Tarase said that the SROs are assigned to the Detective Bureau and also assist patrol. Currently, Officer Alexandra Jezior is the full-time SRO at the High School and Officer Jon Karl serves the Middle School. Patrolman Colin Gregory is stationed at the North Royalton Elementary school.
At the February City Council meeting, Mayor Larry Antoskiewicz stated that St. Albert Principal, Ed Vittardi, contacted him and asked the City to supply them with an SRO. He said that the school was looking for a security firm or something and that they were looking to do something.
“After several meetings, we have come to an agreement,” said Antoskiewicz. “We think it will be good for us, so that’s what we are asking today.” Vittardi addressed Council, saying “we had a great conversation. We were encouraged that there was interest. We were hoping to have a North Royalton Police officer.” He went on to state that the SRO will be a “good opportunity for our kids.” Police Chief Keith Tarase then talked about the current complement of the North Royalton Police Department, saying that it is currently “down one”. He went on to say that “in the course of a week, I went through three other candidates, that, when I called back, had already taken another job.” He also noted that “two to three retirements are expected this year,” adding that he is in the process of “hiring the next person, to replace the known retirement, so we could get ahead of it.” He said that the applicant was given a conditional offer. “She is in the academy until the end of July. Will be given testing ahead of actual offer. After that, four months training, so she wouldn’t be on her own until next January. That person would take the place of one opening. We are still looking for a replacement for the SRO, in addition to any other who may retire this year. “Just alone in retirements, there will be eight just in the next two years.”
The new SRO that will be assigned to St. Albert will begin with the new school year in August. At this point, Tarase will get together with Vittardi to review the applicants and go over which candidate would best serve as the SRO.
By GLORIA PLEVA KACIK
Contributing Writer
