POLAND Officials to mull officer program

The program continued for an extra year after the grant expired.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
POLAND -- The Poland school board and township trustees plan to meet next month to discuss the fate of the school police officer program.
Four years ago, the school district received a $125,000 grant from the U.S. Justice Department to pay the salary of a township officer for three years to work in Poland Seminary High School.
The officer worked at the school during the school year and as a regular township officer the remainder of the year.
A condition of the grant was that the officer's employment continue for at least one year after the grant ran out. That extra year expires Feb. 28.
School board members voted earlier this month not to renew the contract with the township to continue the officer's assignment at the school.
But Dr. Robert Zorn, superintendent, said the board left open the possibility of reconsidering that decision.
"I had suggested that the board of education needs to have dialogue with the trustees," he said.
He said the board can consider several options in its decision. Some of those include asking the township to fund part of the officer's salary and reducing the officer to part time.
The issue isn't about people or personalities, the superintendent said.
"It's a question of how best to spend the money," he said.
The school district's portion of the officer's salary would be between $45,000 and $50,000. That covers the nine-month school year.
School board members and trustees are scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at the township administration building.
Boardman agreement
Earlier this year, Boardman school board and trustees worked out an agreement to continue the school police officer program.
Under that agreement, the Boardman school district will reimburse the township for half the officer's salary during the school year.
The township will pay the remainder as well as benefits and the school board will pay for any overtime incurred by the officer because of school-related activities where his presence is requested.
Robert Lidle Jr., Poland trustees chairman, said trustees are willing to discuss the issue with the school board.
"We can see what can be done about it," he said. "We're always willing to sit down and help matters if possible."