LEES CREEK — Action may be taken in December to decide whether to add a sheriff’s deputy to the halls of East Clinton schools.
The possibility of a full-time school resource officer was initially raised at the October board of education meeting and revisited at Tuesday night’s board session.
East Clinton Local Schools Board of Education President Linda Compton said the manner in which the officer is used “might look different” at the high school compared to one of the two elementary buildings.
East Clinton Superintendent Eric Magee said he anticipated the officer would have a flexible schedule, but that probably most of the officer’s attention would be upon the high and middle schools.
The superintendent added if the same officer is kept for several years, he or she would have the opportunity to build relationships with students when they’re younger and maintain those over time.
The officer would remain an employee of the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office and as such would still be responsible for doing what his superiors there say, said Magee. Nevertheless, while the resource officer is at school, he or she is “at the direction” of East Clinton administrators, he added.
Magee said the move is not something district officials want to do, but rather would be a reflection of the times.
Clinton-Massie, Laurel Oaks, and Wilmington City Schools already have resource officers.
On another matter, Magee commended East Clinton High School Principal Matt Baker for delivering leadership in his response to the deaths of two East Clinton senior students from an Oct. 31 auto accident.
Baker arranged a community gathering which occurred at the school on the Sunday afternoon after the Saturday night crash, Magee said. In addition, the principal spoke at the funeral service and was active in strengthening a feeling of emotional oneness among students and the families, said Magee.
The U.S. Route 62 wreck in Fayette County claimed the lives of Anderson VanNieuwenhze from Leesburg, 17, and Brandon Newman from Sabina, 18.
During Baker’s scheduled report to the board, he spoke about the annual November assembly to honor area military veterans.
“Once again, I am amazed with the amount of respect our students gave the guest speakers, the students who spoke, and most of all, the veterans,” the principal said.
That respect for veterans “obviously comes from the home down,” said Baker.
He also reported on a coat collection led by a single student, a project that fits in with the school year theme of empathy.
In other business at the board meeting:
• An 84-passenger bus will be purchased at an approximate cost of $87,750. The source of dollars is the school district’s Permanent Improvement levy.
• A presentation was given on plans for the May 7, 2016 prom to be held at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Gardens’ Peacock Pavilion.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768 or on Twitter @GHuffenberger.
