Milford School Officer Program to End
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Kathy [email protected]
Monday night council President Doug Ruch read a letter from Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent of Wawasee Community School Corp, which complimented the program and the council for its hard work and concern, but essentially said the program’s end would stay as set out in the original plan. The program showed how “safety and togetherness” was evident in the school system and in the community, according to the letter.
Although the school board has yet to make the final decision, the council spoke as if the program’s end was inevitable.
Edington went on to list the measures that will be taken next year to ensure school safety. The state Department of Education is offering a matching funds program for safety procedures, so money from that program can procure cameras; money from the capital projects fund will be used to secure doors; and some general funds can continue to provide limited police presence in the schools.
With all that coming up, WCSC will let the SRO program at Milford end at the end of the year. Edington’s letter did mention that $1,000 was still left in the program’s account which they could use to extend the police resource officer’s presence into January.
Councilman Bob Cockburn said the issue will not be finalized until the school board meets tonight. He concurred that the state has a $50,000 matching program, providing schools up to $100,000 for cameras and other security devices.
“It’s not looking good, but we won’t know until they have a meeting,” he said.
Councilman Dan Cochran commented that security in schools nationwide “has been an extremely, emotionally charged issue,” but as his main concern is the safety of the children. “I would like to continue to have a presence in our schools.”
He suggested the council use the leftover $1,000 into January, and “see what the school board comes up with.”
In another police department matter, Police Chief Rich Miotto was given the go-ahead to purchase a Panasonic Toughbook computer for one of the squad cars for $1,680.65.
Later, the council decided to switch medical insurance providers for its employees. Anthony Frazzetta of Frazzetta Financial, who took over insurance matters from agent Rick Wagner, who retired, informed council that their current coverage will end in about six months.
Their provider, Medical Mutual of Ohio, will not insure groups in Indiana after that time, and United Healthcare will take over the accounts. The council decided to go with United now, contracting until the end of November 2014.
The employees’ deductibles will go up from $2,500 to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 to $6,000 for families, but premiums will go down about $1,200 per month. The council said they will discuss later providing some of this savings to employees to make up for the higher deductibles.
In other business, the council approved annexation of the Chore-Time Brock property north of town. There will be no extra departmental costs associated with this annexation.
There will be an extra, end-of-year meeting at 9 a.m. Dec. 27.[[In-content Ad]]
Monday night council President Doug Ruch read a letter from Dr. Tom Edington, superintendent of Wawasee Community School Corp, which complimented the program and the council for its hard work and concern, but essentially said the program’s end would stay as set out in the original plan. The program showed how “safety and togetherness” was evident in the school system and in the community, according to the letter.
Although the school board has yet to make the final decision, the council spoke as if the program’s end was inevitable.
Edington went on to list the measures that will be taken next year to ensure school safety. The state Department of Education is offering a matching funds program for safety procedures, so money from that program can procure cameras; money from the capital projects fund will be used to secure doors; and some general funds can continue to provide limited police presence in the schools.
With all that coming up, WCSC will let the SRO program at Milford end at the end of the year. Edington’s letter did mention that $1,000 was still left in the program’s account which they could use to extend the police resource officer’s presence into January.
Councilman Bob Cockburn said the issue will not be finalized until the school board meets tonight. He concurred that the state has a $50,000 matching program, providing schools up to $100,000 for cameras and other security devices.
“It’s not looking good, but we won’t know until they have a meeting,” he said.
Councilman Dan Cochran commented that security in schools nationwide “has been an extremely, emotionally charged issue,” but as his main concern is the safety of the children. “I would like to continue to have a presence in our schools.”
He suggested the council use the leftover $1,000 into January, and “see what the school board comes up with.”
In another police department matter, Police Chief Rich Miotto was given the go-ahead to purchase a Panasonic Toughbook computer for one of the squad cars for $1,680.65.
Later, the council decided to switch medical insurance providers for its employees. Anthony Frazzetta of Frazzetta Financial, who took over insurance matters from agent Rick Wagner, who retired, informed council that their current coverage will end in about six months.
Their provider, Medical Mutual of Ohio, will not insure groups in Indiana after that time, and United Healthcare will take over the accounts. The council decided to go with United now, contracting until the end of November 2014.
The employees’ deductibles will go up from $2,500 to $3,000 for individuals and $5,000 to $6,000 for families, but premiums will go down about $1,200 per month. The council said they will discuss later providing some of this savings to employees to make up for the higher deductibles.
In other business, the council approved annexation of the Chore-Time Brock property north of town. There will be no extra departmental costs associated with this annexation.
There will be an extra, end-of-year meeting at 9 a.m. Dec. 27.[[In-content Ad]]
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