X

Canton Central School will be one of two districts in SLC to have armed officer in school

Posted 8/19/18

By MATT LINDSEY CANTON -- Canton Central School will be one of two schools in St. Lawrence County with an armed in-school police officer for the 2018-19 school year. The officer, which school …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Canton Central School will be one of two districts in SLC to have armed officer in school

Posted

By MATT LINDSEY

CANTON -- Canton Central School will be one of two schools in St. Lawrence County with an armed in-school police officer for the 2018-19 school year.

The officer, which school officials call “school resource officer,” was hired at a time when school shootings and other acts of violence were dominating national headlines. There were several lower scale threats and incidents at some St. Lawrence County schools this past year, including at least one at CCS.

Canton has not had a full-time armed officer on campus in over a decade. CCS last employed an officer from 2000-2003. A lack of funding caused the position to be eliminated.

Superintendent Ronald Burke said he hopes the officer “makes a connection with students” in an attempt to stop incidents before they happen or progress into more serious situations.

“Having an officer will hopefully deter someone that might have intentions to harm students or staff, or cause damage to the campus,” he said.

Canton Central also included money in its budget for the addition of a mental health counselor to help address the social-emotional needs of his students.

Potsdam Central will also have an armed officer in their school this year.

Meanwhile, the school has made changes to its transportation routine in an effort to be more secure.

Armed Officer Chosen

Canton Police Department Officer Ashley Coffey was chosen for the School Resource Officer position for the 2018-19 school year. She is an alumna of Canton Central School.

She will patrol the school from 7:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m., Burke said.

Following graduation from the David Sullivan St. Lawrence County Law Enforcement Academy, Coffey worked 5 years with the Safety and Security Department at St. Lawrence University.

She has been a bicycle patrol officer with the Canton Police Department for the past year and a half.

Prior to assuming duties as SRO, Coffey will attend the 2018 State of New York Police Juvenile Officers and School Resource Officers Conference in Binghamton.

Burke said in his short time in the district that he has heard “generally positive” impressions about having a police officer in the school. “That doesn’t mean there isn’t concerns out there,” he said.

He said the school is working with a “skeleton plan” plan as to the role, duties and programs Coffey will be involved in.

The position has been approved for one year, but Burke is optimistic that the position will continue in the coming years.

New Security Procedures

The morning drop off routine has been changed in order to promote a secure, yet welcoming start to the day. 1

Students may arrive at Banford between 7:30-8 a.m. There is no supervision before this time and the doors will be locked. Students arriving between 7:30-7:50 a.m. can enter from the Banford loop on the playground side of the building. After 7:50, the buses leave the loop, so students should be dropped off at the main Banford entrance by the bus loop.

Pre-K students should arrive between 7:50-8 a.m. at the main Banford entrance by the bus loop after the buses have left. A pre-K teacher will meet them at the main entrance.

Students will be met by greeters at the entrance and escorted to their classes and morning locations as necessary. Starting Sept. 10, only Banford students and staff will be allowed in Banford hallways during arrival. To communicate with the teacher, send a note, email the teacher, or call the office to set up a separate time to meet.

The school office must receive prior written notification of a requested changes indicating the date, time, and location change for dismissal of students. This notice must be provided by 8 a.m. the morning of the requested change. After 8 am, the written emergency requests for busing changes must be presented in person by the parent/guardian or person previously authorized as an emergency contact for the child. Telephone calls, emails, voicemails or faxes will not be accepted to change a child's busing arrangements.

Dismissal for those walking or being picked up is at 2:20 p.m. Student pickup takes place in the Banford cafeteria (entrance through the district office hallway).

Buses will be provided at 3:20 p.m. Monday through Thursday and at 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday to provide transportation home for students in extracurricular activities and athletics.

The school also made some upgrades to its speakers, cameras and doors. Burke said work would likely continue over the next few months with the ultimate goal of safety for students and staff.