Student safety is top priority

On the heels of the school shooting at Robb Elementary School in Ulvalde, Texas, Wapakoneta City Councilors started questioning their role in keeping students safe in local schools.

Councilman Terry Campbell said a conversation he had with fellow councilor Brandon Miller prompted him to invite school district leadership to attend Monday’s city council meeting to get answers to their

questions, and further discuss their concerns.

Aaron Rex, superintendent of Wapakoneta City Schools, came to the meeting with a list of current policies, and a wish list where city council might be able to play a role in helping come to fruition.

One of the priorities would be adding school resource officers. At present, one officer is assigned for the district; he must split his time among the four district buildings.

As with everything, more costs more. Rex provided a potential

breakdown of the cost to put school resource officers in each building,

using an hourly rate for eight hours a day for 180 days a year. The

estimated cost is just over $62,000 per officer. While this is not how the current school resource officer’s time is determined, the thought was to provide a starting point for any discussion to follow.

The current officer’s time is split 70-30 between the district and the

city, and those costs are paid out of the general fund. The district’s 70

percent amounts to $51,937.49 while the city’s portion is $22,258.92.

Residents may recall back in 2019 the board of education authorized

placement of a 1-mill school safety levy on the May primary ballot, with the funds designated for

school safety and security. At the time Rex said the annual $400,000

in new tax dollars would have paid for three additional resource officers and a mental health professional. Voters turned down that request.

Rex said the failure of the levy meant the district had to work within its budget to provide safety

measures, and that’s what they’ve done.

Currently, security measures include:

* No access to buildings unless “buzzed” into the vestibule; visitors must again be “buzzed” into the office area through another locked door;

* Limited access for students during arrival and dismissal;

* Doors can be secured from the inside during a lock down;

* Practice for lock downs and ALICE alerts;

* Active shooter training sessions; * Installation of an alert system in high traffic areas;

* Updated camera systems

But additional resource officers remain on the table. Rex said the

district wants to continue its partnership with the city, and is

open to discussion about how to add them into each building. The district’s threat assessment team agreed additional officers would be welcome to increase the safety measures at school buildings.

Campbell favors the partnership between the city and district and wants to continue discussions.

“What does is look like to add more?” he questioned.

No cost is too high too keep parents and students free from fear about attending school, Councilor Chad Dunlap added.

“No parent should have to fear” sending a child to school, he said, and, “no child should fear being in that building. We have to find a way, and do what we have to do.”

Councilors also asked about other health and safety measures.

Ross Kantner asked if teachers are given training to be able to identify “red flags” from students who may be distressed or prone to violence. Dan Lee asked about the availability of

mental health counseling. Brandon Miller wondered why things are different now, asking “What is the difference? What is the bigger issue?” He recommended the issue be assigned to a committee sooner rather than later.

Rex repeated the safety of students and staff is the district’s top priority.

“Our main goal is to keep our kids safe,” he said, asking, “how do we make that happen?”