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Sherman Central School BOE Considers SRO, Safety Officer

Sherman superintendent Carrie Yohe is pictured. Photo by David Prenatt

SHERMAN — Sherman Central School Board of Education members are discussing the possibility of hiring a school resource officer or a safety officer.

Board President Brian Bates introduced the topic by asking the board for their comments on the matter.

“Obviously, this has been a hot topic with the public,” he said.

A lively discussion followed, with several board members contributing their thoughts and concerns. The general consensus was that the district needs to explore all options before bringing the matter to a vote.

Sherman Superintendent Carrie Yohe told board members that there are two categories of officers, an SRO, who is a law enforcement officer, generally from the local police, while a safety officer is a civil service employee.

Board member Tim Sears encouraged the district to gather more information, not only about the cost involved, but about other benefits of an SRO or safety officer.

“So we can say, we’re going to have increased safety, but we will also have benefits besides safety” he said.

The possibility of having a shared SRO with another district was raised. However, board members agreed that sharing an officer would not work. Board member Teresa Guzman said “I think we should have it said that we don’t feel a shared SRO would be effective.”

Board member Emily Reynolds asked if the district could get someone to give a presentation on the options, as well as the benefits of an SRO or a safety officer. Yohe responded that she would reach out to districts that have had both and ask for their input.

In other business, board members approved a proposed 2023-24 school budget of $12,115,391, including a tax levy increase of 1.5%.

Sears noted that the 1.5% increase in the tax levy would be calculated from people’s current assessments, not the recently updated assessments.

“I think it is really important that people understand they will not be paying this amount on their new assessment,” he said.

Board members discussed different tax levy increases up to 2% before agreeing on the 1.5% increase. Guzman emphasized the need for consistency in the budget from year to year. “We need to be careful of going too low or high. I think we need to get a more steady increase from year to year, rather than jumping around,” she said.

Business Manager Kimberly Oehlbeck told board members that, since the state budget has not been released, she calculated aid figures from the executive budget.

“The government budget is usually higher,” she said. “So, we may receive more aid.”

Yohe reported that district residents will soon be receiving two mailings from the school, one on the budget and one on the capital project, which will also be presented to voters on May 16. The final public presentation on the capital project will be held on May 4, she said.

Yohe also said that, because of personnel realignment, the district will be posting job openings for earth science, physical education and two elementary teaching positions.

Principal Nicole Marino told board members that the Jamestown Jackals professional basketball team talked to students in first through sixth grades and emphasized the “importance of hard work,” both in sports and in the classroom.

Marino also told board members that a representative from the sheriff’s department talked to students about the canine unit and the purpose of having police dogs. She said the students were very attentive throughout the program.

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