Elementary students at Jonathan Alder demonstrate the new Amplify program to board of education members on Monday. The program started at Monroe Elementary and is being implemented in fourth grade classrooms at Plain City. Amplify is a comprehensive literacy program that supports both foundational skills and reading comprehension for students to boost their overall literacy.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Michael Williamson)
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Jonathan Alder officially introduced its new school resource officer to the district this week.
At the regular board of education meeting on Monday, Alder officials approved the contract for Gregg Costas as the new SRO for the district.
Costas will be commissioned by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, but is employed full-time by the school district.
“This has been months and months in the works because we want to make sure we do it right,” said Superintendent James Miller. “The reason I’m recommending him is because he’s student-centered, he cares about the safety and security of our staff and our students, that came out very clearly during the interview process.”
Miller said it was important that whoever the candidate was they put students first and the safety of the district as the top priority. He said he saw that in Costas right away.
Costas said he’s very excited to start working next month and to “build something special” with the Alder community.
“I’m just really excited,” Costas said. “I never had an SRO when I was in high school and you know, there were a lot of times I could’ve really used one. Because there are just some kids out there that really need some guidance and some direction and I’m excited that I’m starting something new and we can build it together.”
He said his goal as the new SRO is to earn the trust of the students and build good relationships that can be taken out into the wider community.
“It’s not going to happen overnight and my kids made me promise them that I would not force it and let it happen naturally,” Costas said. “And I think it’ll come, not only with the students, but with the administrators as well. And the teachers, we all have to work together on this thing together.”
Costas worked for the State of Ohio in various capacities for more than 30 years.
He retired Oct. 1 after 31 years with the state. Most of that time was spent with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation.
A graduate of Youngstown State University, Costas entered the academy right after college and then went to work for BCI where he spent 23 years.
He spent the first four years of his career as an undercover narcotics officer with BCI working in northwestern Ohio.
“BCI created a new special investigations unit where the investigations were going to expand,” he said, noting he was one of the original six selected to be a special investigator. “It really laid the groundwork as to what BCI is doing today.”
He said when he got to age 46 he realized he had spent half of his life at BCI and thought about getting out of the game but still had eight years before he could retire.
“I took a step back, got my (private investigator) license and did some private work,” Costas said. “The last five years I spent as an enforcement agent with the Ohio Department of Agriculture.”
He said that allowed him to transition to life and work in a smaller, more community-focused area.
Costas will start out with a salary of $65,000 a year and will officially begin work for the district on Nov. 1. This is the district’s first full-time SRO.
“I’m grateful that Dr. Miller waited for me since I couldn’t start until I retired,” Costas said. “I hope I don’t disappoint and I’m really excited to get started.”