NORTHFIELD — For the past five months, Pioneer Valley Regional School Committee members have wondered just how new School Resource Officer Igor Komerzan spends his time.
The committee got an answer during a Thursday meeting. Komerzan presented a pie chart of his activities, with 52 percent of the chart — the largest portion — representing time spent “meeting and greeting” students.
Such informal interaction comes while walking the halls and spending time with students during lunch, study hall and gym, shop and cooking classes in order to build relationships.
Komerzan reported that only 3 percent of his time is spent dealing with crime.
“There have been instances when the police have to get involved,” he said, noting that eight students have faced charges since September.
The charges, Komerzan continued, have been drugs and weapons-related, particularly marijuana and knives which were discovered during searches of the students’ backpacks, lockers, vehicles or persons. Komerzan, as a police officer, does not and cannot conduct the searches, which are done by administrators.
Komerzan said the knives ranged in size from pocket knives to 11- or 12-inch knives, which in some cases, students brought to school to give to their friends to take home.
Outside of meeting and greeting students and dealing with crime, Komerzan spends 17 percent of his time in meetings with staff and students; 15 percent in office hours; 7 percent on other responsibilities like home visits with faculty if a student isn’t showing up to school; 5 percent teaching classes; and 2 percent training. Thus far, Komerzan said he has taught a social studies class about legal rights and a health class about drugs and alcohol.
Plus, he coached the girls middle school soccer team.
“I got to know the kids really well, but also the parents,” he said.
When administrators need help with transporting a student to a class at Greenfield Community College or teaching an alternative physical education class to individual students, Komerzan also steps in to help.
School Committee member Sharon Fontaine asked administrators to devise a comprehensive job description for Komerzan, separate from his job description with the Northfield Police Department. She also noted that when Komerzan was hired last summer, it was understood by board members that he would be implementing the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program at each district elementary school. With his anticipated class in December canceled, Komerzan has yet to get the training.
Still, Komerzan visited each elementary schools before Halloween to give safety presentations, and although he recognized the opportunity for increased involvement with the elementary schools, with or without the DARE program, administrators voiced their appreciation of Komerzan.
“I know that as a principal, I’m able to call him, get his help and access his expertise,” said Pearl Rhodes School Principal Deanna Leblanc.