'Another layer of preventive measures:' Strasburg to add school resource officer

Jon Baker, The Times-Reporter

Updated October 20, 2023 at 8:16 AM·4 min read

STRASBURG ‒ The hiring of a school resource officer for Strasburg-Franklin Local Schools will add another layer of security at the district, which has working since last year to improve the safety of students and staff.

"We put something in place called the Tiger Way," said Superintendent Vince Lindsey, who is in his second year on the job. "What the Tiger Way does is really try to put all the arrows in one direction. It deals with having high expectations, communication, collaboration, having a vision for the future and safety and resources. So, safety's a big part of that."

Vince Lindsey is the current superintendent of Strasburg-Franklin Schools.

Cooperation between the village and school district

The district is working with the village of Strasburg to hire the school resource officer. The officer will be hired by the police department and will be a village employee. The school district will pay 70% of the cost and the village will pick up the other 30%. The officer will be in the school on a daily basis. When the district is on a holiday break or during the summer, that person will work as an officer for the village.

More on school safety: New Philadelphia school board weighs idea of hiring second school resource officer

Mayor Steve Smith said this is something that has been a long time coming. "We're more than interested to move forward with this project to ensure the safety of the kids."

The officer will not be involved in discipline of students or the day-to-day operations of the school.

"This person is going to build relationships with parents, staff and students K-12. That's huge. This person is going to know everyone, work with everyone, be visible for everyone," Lindsey said.

Strasburg has about 600 students.

Salary and benefits

According to an ad posted by the Strasburg Police Department, the officer will be paid $22 per hour ($45,760 annually) and receive health insurance and a 10% Ohio Police & Fire retirement contribution covered by the village. The applicant must have a basic Ohio Police Officer Training Academy certificate.

The district's share of the cost will come from the general fund. Both the district and the village will be working on getting grants to help pay for the officer.

"But we didn't want to wait," Lindsey said. "We said, we don't want finances to be an obstacle of why not to be more safe or more secure. So right now, it will come from the general fund."

A temporary resource officer is scheduled to start at the district on Monday until the new officer is trained on the rules and responsibilities of an active police officer for the village of Strasburg. Lindsey said the search for an officer is going well.

School Safety Grant received

Last year, Strasburg secured a $200,000 School Safety Grant from the state of Ohio ‒ $100,000 for the middle school/high school and $100,000 for the elementary building. It was used for internal and external improvements and enhancements.

"We are more secure than we've ever been before," Lindsey said "When someone enters our building, we're going to know exactly where they're at at all times. They're not going to have free access to the building. It's going to slow the process down. Visitors and whoever are going to be a little more inconvenienced coming in, but that's OK. We're going to give up some convenience to be more safe and secure."

New Philadelphia City Schools, Dover City Schools and Buckeye Career Center also utilize school resource officers. The other public-school districts in Tuscarawas County ‒ Tuscarawas Valley, Garaway, Claymont, Indian Valley and Newcomerstown ‒ arm their staff members.

Lindsey said he is not opposed to arming staff members, but "I prefer the professionals who have the training and truly believe in that."