The Perkiomen Valley School District‘s board has approved a school resource officer (SRO) plan. Evan Brandt reported the action in The Times Herald.

The motion to spend $1.3 million on the program passed 6–3.

The SRO initiative — already budgeted — includes seven officers and their equipment: vehicles, uniforms, body armor, weapons, radios. Internal reassignation of existing school security personnel will eventually create a patrol of 13.

A last-minute limitation was introduced to the proposal, calling for hiring procedures to be “… contingent on approving policies and administrative regulations and development of roles and responsibilities of school police officers in the district.”

In agreeing with the need for scrutiny in moving forward, board member Tammy Campli said, “This is not about yes or no. This is about being thoughtful.”

Other particulars discussed included local police department locations and the tax implications their boundaries in Lower Perkiomen, Lower Frederick, and Collegeville may imply. The racial composition of the SRO presence and the lack of direct student input were also considered.

School Board President Jason Saylor cited internal support of the SRO idea, indicated by a recent survey of both students and employees.

He issued the reminder that the tragic serendipity of school violence requires proactive diligence. Without it, he said, “… [W]e become a soft target.”

More on the SRO proposal in the Perk Valley district is at The Times Herald.

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A profile on an SRO from South Carolina.