MCS Debates Resource Officer Will Look into Building a Relationship with Local Law Enforcement

MIDDLEBURGH - Middleburgh school board members and officials earlier this month briefly discussed having a school resource officer in the district before deciding to improve student relationships with law enforcement.

Several nearby districts have hired SROs in the past few years, but at their March 11 meeting, MCS board members and officials decided to go a different route.

"Although the agenda listed a discussion about a School Resource Officer," Superintendent Mark Place said,  "the board’s conversation focused more on rebuilding a liaison-type relationship with local law enforcement, similar to what the district had in the past. The administrative team will reach out to law enforcement to begin those conversations."

There was little interest in actually hiring an SRO.

High school Principal Matthew Sloane said he did not feel the culture of the high school needs that kind of enforcement. He wondered that an SRO would do all day for the expense.

Mr. Place said there are usually two to three fights in the high school per year and how likely is an SRO "going to be in that exact spot at that exact time."

Board member Becky Binder said there is a positive from a student exchanging high fives and fist bumps with an adult.

Mr. Place said officials would do the research and come back to the board.

Board members also discussed altering the public comment section of the board meeting and seniors exit interviews.

Board members discussed whether the placement of public comment allowed the community to respond to presentations, which are held earlier in the meeting. They decided to move public comment to after presentations instead of before so residents have that opportunity.

As for senior exit interviews, the conversation focused on whether the interviews should occur earlier than the senior year, or if they remain in the senior year, and whether they should happen earlier in the school year. No decision was made for the current year.

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In other action, board members:

* Heard that student AI training has begun. It has been found that students need teacher to engage. The training will continue over the next four or five weeks.

* Discussed the new state Portrait of a Graduate with new graduation requirements. There will be changes in the Regents in the next two years. The new requirements allows for different pathways, flexibility in academics, career and technical education, and work.

Mr. Sloane noted that with changes in the science department, the district will likely do away with the earth science course and replace it with environmental science with a lab. Changes in the curriculum will be made during the summer. He also noted that agriculture courses also counts for science credit.