BY MATT LINDSEY
North Country This Week

CANTON — A community forum later this month will continue the conversation about whether a student resource officer is wanted at Canton Central School.

Canton Village Mayor Michael Dalton, Police Chief James Santimaw and Rev. Michael Catanzaro went to the Canton school board to express their desire to have a community-wide conversation about an SRO in the district.

“No decision was made regarding the formation of an ad hoc committee to study an SRO position,” Superintendent Ron Burke said.

Catanzaro said the decision by the Board of Education not to form a committee to explore the SRO position is appropriate at this time because there has not been the necessary commission from the community to do so.

“That said, there really has not been an opportunity to express such a desire, if that desire even exists,” he said.

A community conversation is set for Tuesday June 13, at 7 p.m. at the Canton First Presbyterian Church, 17 Park St. There is seating for about 200 people.

“There is no way to know where this conversation might lead us, but I am certain that simply allowing ourselves to speak and listen to each other, as a community, will bear much fruit,” Catanzaro said.

Members of the Canton school community are likely to attend.

“If Rev. Mike proceeds with the community meeting, I will attend as an observer as may other district representatives,” Burke said.

Finances, Feelings, Firearms

Catanzaro said the idea of an SRO is one that is incredibly challenging to consider, as it involves many aspects; chief among them financial costs and impact on the school budget, and introducing a weapon into the district.

“I believe, though, that these should not prevent us from contemplating the possibility,” he said. “Let’s not insist on first having the answers before we allow ourselves to ask the questions.”

This proposed community conversation is simply a first step.

“While intended to create an opportunity for folks to speak their mind, we hope that people will speak what is on their heart as well; and truly listen to others as they do the same,” he said.

Catanzaro said in the end, we all want what is best for our children and for our community.

“If we are being honest, I believe we all feel a certain level of discomfort and anxiousness about the safety of our kids and the educational environment; certainly some in the community more than others. It would be unwise not to acknowledge and honor this,” he said.

He said we can no longer trust that terrible things cannot happen here, as too many communities have discovered.

“While many might understand the SRO position to be that of sentinel, I envision the role primarily as mentor, counselor and advocate, Catanzaro said.

He said the more important proactive concern is how the community can ensure that every child is seen, heard and supported.

National Issue

“Speaking personally, I have moved well beyond being only mildly troubled about national events and climate and their impact on our society, the effects of social media on our young, and the increasing challenges parents are facing in raising their families,” Catanzaro said.

He said he thinks the world has changed, and will continue to change, and our understanding of what is required to meet these new challenges must necessarily change as well.

“More specifically, in 25 years of ministry here in Canton I have seen too many kids ‘fall through the cracks’ and it quite simply hurts my heart,” he said. “Especially when experience has shown me that only relatively modest efforts to support and nurture kids can result in disproportionally large and positive impacts on their lives.”

Catanzaro said the need to have an SRO or not is a decision only the parents, residents and taxpayers of the community can and should be making.

“Issues of weight, such as the SRO position, need to be revisited as time and circumstances direct,” he said. “In exploring the role of the SRO nationwide, it is clear that a universal prerequisite for success is community support, buy-in, and involvement.”