POTSDAM – Potsdam Central Board of Education will review the budget and consider adding an in-school police officer at special meeting tonight. The board will consider allocating $30,000 for an in-school law enforcement officer, which they call a “school resource officer,” or increasing the presence of the Potsdam Village Police Department in the district.

In the coming weeks, the Potsdam Central School District’s Board of Education will make a final decision regarding the employment of an officer or increased police presence.

Superintendent Joann Chambers recently met with Potsdam Village Administrator, Greg Thompson and Chief of Police Mark Murray to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of various models.

The board will approve the final budget Monday, April 16.

Potsdam Central School, in conjunction with the Potsdam Village Police Department, sponsored a second Community Forum on School Safety April 3 that was attended by about 50 parents and community members as well as school administrators and several members of the BoE. The event was co-sponsored by the PTSA and the PCS Cares parent groups.

Chambers opened the program with an overview of the agenda as well as a review of the district’s Mission, “vision, core values and beliefs.”

A. A. Kingston Middle School Principal and District Safety Committee Chair Dan Cook then spoke about the district’s safety planning strategies, including monthly meetings of the District Safety Committee, the development and continual refinement of the District-Wide and Building-Level Safety Plans, and the periodic Safety Audits conducted by local law enforcement officials.

PCS High School Principal Mark Bennett shared information on safety and security features that have been installed throughout the school district over the last few years, including secure entrances, upgraded alarms systems, interior door locks, and security cameras.

Lawrence Avenue Elementary School Principal Jennifer Gray then discussed programs and systems the district has in place to address students’ social and emotional needs, identify students in crisis, and work collaboratively with community agencies to ensure every student has the support they need to be successful.

Next, Lieutenant Mike Ames from the Potsdam Village Police Department provided an abbreviated version of the active shooter training he has done for many school districts, businesses, and agencies in the county. He provided some statistical information about school violence, offered suggestions on strategies to employ during an active shooter situation, and detailed the police response that could be expected if such an emergency should occur.

Following the presentation, Ames and Murray fielded several questions from the audience related to the Potsdam Village Police Department’s training and collaborative planning with the school district.

Parents present also had questions about the district’s emergency protocols and asked if more information about what students are told to do in an emergency could be shared with parents. The administration agreed it would be helpful to review our safety plans with students and also share this information with parents.

A question was also raised about student backpacks and whether the district was considering not allowing high school students to carry backpacks during the school day. The District Safety Committee and high school staff and administration will explore this suggestion.

Donna Savage, a police officer assigned to the Malone Central School District, was on hand and answered questions about her role. Savage is a retired Malone Village Police officer and has served as the in-school officer for the past two school years.

She wears a modified uniform and carries a firearm. She gave “examples highlighting the positive rapport she has developed with students, particularly at Franklin Academy and Malone Middle School. She noted anecdotal evidence of improved school climate, a decreased incidence of serious discipline issues, and she shared feedback from students and staff in that district who said they felt safer at school with her present,” according to Potsdam Central officials.

A discussion ensued regarding the possibility of the Potsdam Central School District adding law enforcement to school or working with the Potsdam Village Police Department to intentionally increase police presence in the school district.

Chambers discussed the role a police officer would play in school, which she says “includes education, counseling/mentoring, and law enforcement. The position is primarily a proactive approach to school safety as SROs build positive relationships with students, become confidantes for students who have critical information to share, and support administrators and staff in ensuring a safe environment.”

However, an in-school officer can also be seen as an additional security measure in that he/she can respond quickly in the event of an emergency at school.

Former SUNY Potsdam dean of students Chip Morris talked about the college’s transition from campus security to University Police. He said having armed officers on campus made some faculty and students feel safer and others feel less safe.

Some audience members shared comments from their own middle school and high school-age children. Some students have a distrust of law enforcement, they said, particularly in light of some of the images they see in the media.

Jamie Mason, Town of Potsdam justice and former DARE officer, spoke of his experience working in the Potsdam Central School District. “Though only in the buildings a few hours a week, he has maintained positive relationships with his former students to this day. He emphasized the need for students to see police officers as individuals in our community who are there to help. He thought having a greater presence would help change the negative perception some students have,” PCS officials said.

Chambers said if the school district were to add a police officer or increase police presence, the administration would need to talk with students about the reasons behind the change and listen to concerns they might have.

One community member expressed concern that having law enforcement in our school buildings would lead to an increase in student arrests. Murray and Chambers both responded to this question, stating that neither the police department nor the school district want to see students enter the criminal justice system. There are many steps both can take to help students get back on track. Ames mentioned that the criminal age is being raised to 18 in New York state and matters are dealt with through PINS (Pupils in Need of Supervision) petitions and family court.