Riverside Schools announces new safety officers, security improvements
Sep. 2—Riverside School Board has voted to create positions for new elementary school safety officers as well as approved a purchase order for a security booth at the Riverside Campus and accepted a state school safety grant.
The decision to employ safety officers at Buckeye, Melridge, Riverview and Parkside elementary schools came a month after the district made the safety officer roles at Riverside Campus and LaMuth Middle School full-time positions with benefits.
District treasurer and chief financial officer Gary Platko noted in an email exchange following the board's latest move at its Aug. 25 meeting that the elementary school deputies "will be hired under the same process and with the same benefits as the ones for the high school and middle school."
While the officers are district employees, they are deputized and provided with training, uniforms and equipment by the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Platko previously explained to The News-Herald.
Superintendent James Kalis noted at the board meeting that the school safety officers are certified peace officers.
"We want to make sure it's also somebody who's really good with kids... and visitors coming into the building," he said.
The officers guard building entrances, issue passes and help direct visitors to the correct location, said Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Jeff Sherwood in a previous interview with The News-Herald. They are also the first responders in the event of an active shooter situation.
The board also voted to approve a $31,950 purchase order with Total Security Solutions to install a security booth for the safety officer at Riverside Campus.
"The booth will be constructed with glass and materials that are level 3 ballistic rated to protect the officer in the event of a threat," Platko noted. "It will also allow time for the officer to respond to any threat and give the officer a permanent place for their desk and computer."
Finally, Platko announced that the district received $200,000 from the Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant program. Buckeye, Melridge, LaMuth and the Riverside Campus will all receive $50,000.
"The district is planning on installing new secure entryway vestibules...that are equipped with a buzzer/intercom system, level 3 ballistic glass, and new cameras," he said in an email exchange.
Parkview and Riverview elementary schools were ineligible for the grant, Platko added, as they were Ohio Facilities Construction Commission projects that were completed within the past five years.
"We did build some safety protocols in those buildings," Kalis said at the board meeting.
The Ohio K-12 School Safety Grant Program was started in 2021, noted Gov. Mike DeWine's office, when the General Assembly and governor set aside $5 million in funding. This year, the state government added $100 million using funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Board member Belinda Grassi explained at the meeting that the district applied for the grant in the first round but did not receive any funding.
DeWine announced on Aug. 2 that more than $47 million would go to 1,183 schools that applied last year and did not receive funding. A maximum of $50,000 was awarded per school building.
Schools may apply to receive a portion of the remaining $53 million, with the governor's office noting that it will prioritize schools that did not apply or submitted ineligible applications in previous rounds of funding.
Platko said that the district will apply for additional funds from the remaining grant money. If it does not receiving additional funding, it will use permanent improvement money to complete the projects if needed.
