Expanding Greenwich HS Security Includes Second SRO

If the Representative Town Meeting approves a $1.4 million Greenwich Public Schools security plan Monday night, a second school resource officer is expected to be assigned to Greenwich High School and the town's three middle schools.

Following the Dec. 14 elementary school massacre in Newtown, Greenwich Public School officials have been working with the First Selectman and the Greenwich Police Department to identify “strategies to enhance the safety and security of our public schools."

The review encompassed the entirety of the district footprint including classrooms, schools, levels, district and town.

The Board of Education first considered the security proposal in February and approved an amended plan on Feb. 21. Next, the proposal was vetted through the Board of Estimate and Taxation, who approved the funding request March 18 with a vote of 12-0.

Part of the District’s $1.4 million plan is to increase police presence at Greenwich High School and in the district’s three middle schools.

At last week’s school board work session at Cos Cob School, McKersie said that the district has been conferring with Greenwich Police Chief James Heavey and Sgt. Mark Zuccerella of the department's Special Victims Section, about the role of the Student Resource Officer (SRO) at GHS. 

Heavey told Greenwich Patch that he "was involved in the implementation of the first SRO at GHS and the program has truly proved its value to GHS and the community at large. An important aspect of the program is that it is a community policing partnership with the Board of Education, the GHS Administration, parents and the police department."

More focus on the Middle Schools

McKersie explained that a second resource officer would “round out coverage” at the high school and would “support those students in need of additional attention.” However, a second SRO would also be able to help to “provide coverage at the middle schools in a relationship building way.” McKersie said that by “working with those youth on edge of trouble or in trouble” in the middle schools, the administration and the SROs would then have “a better understanding of those students” when they arrive at GHS.

As board members asked just how does a SRO work within the framework of GHS, McKersie explained that the district has a large and diverse high school. Officer Carlos Franco, the SRO at GHS since 2007, works “seamlessly” as part of a team that includes Dean of Student Life Lorraine Termini as well as the schools' social workers, psychologists and guidance counselors. He is an “integral member of mental health team at GHS by both staff and students” and “not necessarily seen as a police officer.”

When the teams are conducting “risk assessments and risk reviews,” Franco is able to provide a “legal perspective.” McKersie revealed that prior to the presence of the SRO at GHS, the Greenwich Police Department basically was required to “visit” GHS once a day for a variety of reasons.

“He knows the students. He makes it his business,”

said McKersie of Franco’s efforts. “School administrators face issues which require police assistance,” explained McKersie. Through Franco’s efforts, a youth intervention system is being utilized in which “things can be mitigated rather than becoming a legal issue.” McKersie also expressed appreciation that he has 24/7 access via Franco so that a responsive reaction may occur when necessary. Without providing specifics, McKersie indicated that there have been “a number of situations” since his arrival in which police access was used.

Benefits of Added Coverage

Director of Pupil Personnel Services Mary Forde explained that Franco’s role has been “expanded” this year to begin to include the middle schools. This expansion then means that there are times that Franco is not at the GHS campus. Heavey concurred that "if we can get a second SRO it will also help us to fill the gaps created by the increased demands placed on the current one SRO format. The increase in this partnership will allow all of us to more effectively handle the needs of our youth."

There also are about 70 students enrolled at the “satellite” school ARCH and CLP at St. Catherine’s Church in Riverside.

"A second SRO would allow us to address the needs of the middle schools and CLP in a more consistent manner," Heavey said. "The second SRO will also be integrated into the overall school security and safety plan. In reviewing all the data about the SRO program it is clear to me that we have identified the need for a second officer."

“Do we want an additional SRO on our team?” asked McKersie.

If the funding request is approved by the RTM Monday evening, the school board would then discuss and vote on a recommendation to add a second SRO at their April 25 business meeting at Riverside School. Heavey said that "if a second SRO position is approved we will coordinate the selection process with the Board of Education and the police department."

Whose budget?

McKersie responded to the financial implication with “we have to come to a solution on the funding” which is under review. “We need to work with Chief Heavey on what is possible,” said McKersie explaining that the chief did commit to provide training this summer. "We have reserved seats in the basic and advanced SRO training programs to be offered this summer in Connecticut," confirmed Heavey.