Pictured above, Shawn Dyer, a deputy with the Union County Sheriff’s Office, pictured right, is welcoming a student to North Union schools. As the district’s school resource officer, he’s in charge of upholding safety around the school and helping educate students through the DARE program.
(Photo submitted)
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The school resource officer (SRO) program in Union County is back in action, and the school districts of North Union and Fairbanks are enjoying it.
These SRO’s are deputies from the Union County Sheriff’s Office sent to schools to enforce safety, as well as assist in teaching classes and DARE program. Union County Sheriff Jamie Patton said this idea came together to promote safety and a positive police culture within the schools.
“In light of the violence that’s happening across the United States and in Ohio… it was a well-received concept,” Patton said. “Why not take advantage of the available funding and collaboration of all of these entities getting together? It really shows the collaborative effort with township, government and school that everyone’s invested in their kids and the youth today.”
Patton said the program was in the works as early as February 2017, when he was learning about the state Attorney General offering funding for half of an SRO’s salary.
He then began work convincing various townships other entities to gather funding for an SRO’s salary and benefits for Fairbanks and North Union school districts.
In addition to getting half of each officer’s pay from the Attorney General, Patton said he was able to get $25,000 from each school. He said he received $12,500 for each officer, and the remainder was paid for by neighboring townships and villages.
“We split it, and it wasn’t as bad when we divided it up amongst all of the townships,” Patton said.
For North Union, an agreement with the board of education, the state, and Claibourne, Jackson, Washington, York and Leesburg townships was made to fund the program.
Rich Baird, superintendent for the North Union School District, said the district’s SRO, Shawn Dyer, promotes positive police culture in the schools.
“(The SRO program) is building a positive relationship with the law enforcement community,” Baird said. “We’re putting a school resource officer in a school in front of the kids and with the kids to create a positive situation. They’ll look at that school resource officer as truly a resource for them, both in the school and out in the community.”
Dyer also collaborates with the school on safety plans for evacuations or preparations for accidents.
Dyer will help with teaching the DARE program. Baird said a part of Dyer’s inclusion was in response to an opioid epidemic report.
“We will have evidence-based education programs like DARE throughout our school implemented by the SRO to fight that epidemic,” Baird said.
Baird said Dyer is appreciated and respected in the schools. He said Dyer is “one of the most popular people in our schools amongst the students.”
In addition to North Union, Fairbanks School District also received assistance in paying for its SRO program.
In August, the Village of Milford Center agreed to help pay for an SRO in the district. Also contributing to funding the program are Darby, Union and Mill Creek townships.
“It’s a great partnership and come-together type moment that’s going to help our district and kids,” said Fairbanks Superintendent Bob Humble.
Humble said the district’s SRO, Rod Wilson, shares a lot of the responsibilities Dyer has for North Union Schools. As well as helping teach classes to promote safety, Wilson also works with safety plans with the school.
Humble said Wilson is there to create positive relationships with the students. He said Wilson has created an environment where children can come to him for advice and support.
“He’s here to build good, healthy relationships with these kids,” Humble said. “He does things where it’s nice to have someone else who’s not necessarily a teacher or administrator (helping out).”
He said Wilson is there to be a deterrent for trouble around the school, adding Wilson’s appearance alone will hopefully prevent possible issues.
Wilson has made a lasting impact on the students, as Humble said the staff and children are “raving” about him.
“He’s basically another staff member and everyone loves him,” he said.
Humble said he has no other plans for Wilson other than to keep doing what he’s doing now. He wants to make sure Wilson has the time to “be visible and out in the classrooms” and not “stuck in an office.”
Patton said SRO’s while not on duty because school’s not in session, will instead spend that time patrolling the townships and villages who contributed to the program.