School Resource Officer

JOB TITLE:

School Resource Officer

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Certificate, license, or other legal credential required.
• Degree(s) or certification preferred in the area of major study.
• Kind and amount of prior job experience required.
• Physical and mental condition fitting him/her to work or associate with children.
• Ability to communicate effectively with community, students, staff and parents.
• Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Board of Education may find appropriate.

REPORTS TO:

Assistant Superintendent, Superintendent and Principals

DESCRIPTION/ EXPECTATIONS:

1. To be an extension of the superintendent's office and each building principal's office for administrative control and assignment.
2. To be a visible, active law enforcement figure on each campus dealing specifically with law enforcement matters originating on the assigned campus.
3. To be a classroom resource for law education using district approved materials.
4. To be a resource for students and attempt to create a positive, productive connection to a law enforcement figure.
5. To be a resource for teachers, parents, and students for conferences on an individual basis dealing with individual problems or questions, particularly in the areas of conflict resolution and substance control.
6. To appear before groups associated with the assigned campus and speak on requested topics, particularly conflict resolution and substance control.
7. To become familiar with all community agencies which offer assistance to dependency and delinquency prone youth and their families, such as mental health clinics, drug treatment centers, etc.
8. To develop plans and strategies to prevent and/or minimize dangerous situations which might result in student unrest.
9. To develop plans to deal and react to situations of student violence, hostage situations, bomb threats, and other situations of danger to students and/or school employees.
10. To provide community-wide crime prevention presentations on request, that include but are not limited to:
    1. Drugs and the law - adult and Juvenile
    2. Alcohol and the law - adult and Juvenile
    3. Sexual assault prevention
    4. Safety programs - adult and Juvenile
    5. Violence and the School
    6. Violence and the Community
    7. Trespassing
    8. Education of Juvenile Crime/Law
    9. Education in Law Enforcement Matters
    10. Citizenship and Community Responsibility, Community Policing
    11. Suicide Prevention and Awareness
    12. Gang Prevention and Information for Parents, Students and Faculty
    13. Other Presentations on an as needed basis
11. Assume such other duties as assigned by supervisor or administrative personnel.

RULES & REGULATIONS:

• The School Resource Officer (SRO) is not a school disciplinarian. Disciplining students is a school responsibility, and only when the building principal believes an incident to be criminal or threatening in nature will the SRO be called for assistance. However, it is understood that the SRO does have leeway to make a judgment determination when he/she becomes aware of a potential threat of violence.
• The SRO is first and foremost a law enforcement officer, which will be continuously reinforced.
• The SRO is a law enforcement officer working as an extension of the superintendent and building principal's office, and will be attired in appropriate dress as determined by school administration.
• The SRO will consistently maintain visibility by conducting classroom presentations, conferences, and other activities. The decision for the SRO to shift to plain clothes will be made jointly by the superintendent and appropriate building principal.
• The SRO will wear his/her duty weapons as follows:
  • Uniform: in accordance with the appropriate prescribed police unit (Class A).
  • Plain clothes: weapon(s) and other defense devices will be worn concealed.
• Due to reasons of liability, the SRO will not conduct locker checks with probable cause. The SRO may assist a building principal who is performing a search based on reasonable suspicion. The SRO must have been summoned or asked to remain during the search by the building principal.
• The SRO must be eligible to be commissioned with the Ste. Genevieve County Sheriff's Department and the City of Ste. Genevieve Police Department.
• Must be P.O.S.T. certified as a police officer with full arrest authority.
• Must be able to attend and pass the SRO Certification class.
• Report to the school campus at 7:30a.m. and remain until 3:30p.m. Some variance of this schedule may be required for special events.
• Attend after school home functions such as athletic events, dances, pep rallies, and graduation exercises as deemed necessary by the building administration.
• Attend away games with the teams if requested by the building administration.
• If sick, notify the school administrator no later than 7:00a.m.
• Notify the school administrator when leaving the school campus for any reason.
• Supervise traffic at the beginning and end of each school day to ensure the safety of all students.
• Patrol the parking lots ensuring the students' safety into the school upon arrival in the morning and upon leaving the campus in the afternoon, to deter reckless driving, and to make sure only active students enter the campus.
• Continue the Ste. Genevieve R-II tradition of providing a safe learning environment for students and deter misconduct by remaining highly visible in the halls, cafeteria, and gymnasium.
• Serve as a role model to students, especially in terms of appropriate attitudes and respect.
• Assist the school administration with anyone who is causing a disruption, truancy issues, and any criminal activities occurring on campus.
• Perform ongoing security checks of the campus and make recommendations to the school administrator.
• Attend faculty meetings when requested by the school administrator.
• Attend conferences with students, parents, and faculty members when necessary to assist them with law enforcement issues and/or crime prevention.
• Function as an information source for law enforcement and juvenile officials.
• Assist the school administrator in developing and implementing plans and strategies to prevent and handle dangerous situations.
• Attend meetings with other SRO's and school officials to exchange information and ideas.
• Serve as a liaison between law enforcement, school personnel, and parents.
• Coordinate all activities with the school administrator and seek their advice, permission, and guidance prior to enacting programs within the school.
• Adhere to the Ste. Genevieve County R-II School District Board Policies at all times.
• Keep names of students and actions taken by school administration in the strictest confidence.

TERMS OF EMPLOYMENT:

Salary, work day, and year to be established by the Board of Education.

EVALUATION

Performance of this job will be evaluated annually in accordance with provisions of the Board of Education's policy on Evaluation of Classified Personnel.

---