NORTHFIELD — Based on a Thursday vote of the Pioneer Valley Regional School District School Committee, the district may be without a school resource officer next year.
While looking at items to cut to meet the $14.2 million spending plan approved for next school year, eight members of the committee voted five-to-three not to fund Igor Komerzan’s position. Cutting it would save the district about $28,000.
However, it’s possible the decision might not hold, according to Superintendent Ruth Miller.
“There are people in the community that are very unhappy that this discussion occurred,” she said, noting discussion of the school resource officer’s position was not on the agenda. “I think they were feeling a little bit blindsided … From what I’m hearing, people are going to demand that they vote with all the School Committee members present.”
School Committee members Robin L’Etoile and Jeanne Milton weren’t present, and Debra Gilbert left midway through the meeting before the vote, though the committee was able to reach a quorum.
Since Komerzan was hired as the school resource officer last summer, Northfield has paid for about $40,000 of his income, not including health insurance and a retirement plan, according to Northfield Police Chief Robert Leighton. The school district pays the remainder, with Komerzan resolving bullying issues, getting involved in teaching classes, and dealing with crime from weapons possession to drug dealing.
Leighton said he hasn’t officially been notified that the position has been dissolved, and won’t change anything until then. He said he hopes the decision will be reversed, noting that Komerzan was in fact able to save the district money.
“At one point, a lot of the certifications the teachers had for CPR expired,” he said. Ordinarily, the district would supply training, Leighton said, but Komerzan is a certified instructor.
“He was able to certify all those teachers and do it on the premises, with very little disruption to their schedules,” Leighton said. “And it didn’t cost the school a dime.”
For members of the School Committee who voted in favor of not funding the position, a tight budget was at the forefront of their decision.
However, the position was also approved by voters at last year’s annual town meeting.
“This is what parents and taxpayers want,” Leighton said.
Under Massachusetts General Law Chapter 71, Section 37P, it is a requirement for a chief of police to assign, in this case, a regional school district, with at least one school resource officer. However, upon written application, a school district can seek to have the state commissioner of elementary and secondary education waive the requirement if the commissioner agrees a school resource officer wouldn’t help the district in ensuring school safety. Or, if the chief of police in consultation with the superintendent determines there aren’t sufficient resources to assign a school resource officer, the chief will in turn consult with state police to ensure one is assigned.
https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXII/Chapter71/Section37P