Unadilla Valley School District updates contract with resource officer
NEW BERLIN – Last July the Unadilla Valley Central School District (UVCSD) signed a five-year contract with the New Berlin Police Department to have a full-time resource officer in the school.
The school re-hired Resource Officer John Lowe, who has been involved with the school since 2013. Previously the school had hired Lowe on a one-year basis.
“My job here at UV is to protect students, guests, and faculty. Their safety and security is my number one priority,” said Lowe. “If it came down to it, I would lay down my life for our students. That’s why I’m here.”
With the signing of the five-year contract, Lowe says that now more than ever it’s important for schools to embrace the resource officer program.
“Most faculty members don’t have the investigative experience that a police officer is going to have,” said Lowe, noting there was a recent occurrence at the school where vague threats had been made by a student. “We isolated everyone that was potentially involved in a matter of minutes.”
While Lowe is primarily a resource officer, he said he is still on call for the New Berlin Police Department.
“If the town needs me then I can go, but it doesn’t happen very frequently.” he explained.
Lowe mentioned that some parents had concerns that the school’s security wasn’t enough, but he had another point of view.
“There comes a time where the building ceases to be a school. How are kids going to learn when they’re inundated with five or six guys armed with guns?”
Lowe said that while he understands that putting a resource officer in a school won’t stop all related school crimes, he believes it’s a step in the right direction.
Lowe also said, “I know school budgets are tight, but how can people put a price on students’ lives?”
UV Superintendent Robert J. Mackey explained the school reinvested in the resource officer program five years ago after national tragedies were taking place around the country.
Mackey said that having a resource officer is very important to the school, and they’ve been able to pay for it by setting aside money from their school budget.
“Years ago the board of education members set funds aside for a resource officer,” Mackey said. “Currently we spend $35,000 annually on the program, and we use funds from state aid and local taxes to make it happen.”
Town Board Supervisor Robert Starr explained how the agreement works between the town and school.
“The school ultimately pays [Lowe’s] salary, the mileage, and for gas. In return, Officer Lowe is stationed there full-time to help with security, and when he’s done there, he acts as a part-time officer for the town.”
The school re-hired Resource Officer John Lowe, who has been involved with the school since 2013. Previously the school had hired Lowe on a one-year basis.
“My job here at UV is to protect students, guests, and faculty. Their safety and security is my number one priority,” said Lowe. “If it came down to it, I would lay down my life for our students. That’s why I’m here.”
With the signing of the five-year contract, Lowe says that now more than ever it’s important for schools to embrace the resource officer program.
“Most faculty members don’t have the investigative experience that a police officer is going to have,” said Lowe, noting there was a recent occurrence at the school where vague threats had been made by a student. “We isolated everyone that was potentially involved in a matter of minutes.”
While Lowe is primarily a resource officer, he said he is still on call for the New Berlin Police Department.
“If the town needs me then I can go, but it doesn’t happen very frequently.” he explained.
Lowe mentioned that some parents had concerns that the school’s security wasn’t enough, but he had another point of view.
“There comes a time where the building ceases to be a school. How are kids going to learn when they’re inundated with five or six guys armed with guns?”
Lowe said that while he understands that putting a resource officer in a school won’t stop all related school crimes, he believes it’s a step in the right direction.
Lowe also said, “I know school budgets are tight, but how can people put a price on students’ lives?”
UV Superintendent Robert J. Mackey explained the school reinvested in the resource officer program five years ago after national tragedies were taking place around the country.
Mackey said that having a resource officer is very important to the school, and they’ve been able to pay for it by setting aside money from their school budget.
“Years ago the board of education members set funds aside for a resource officer,” Mackey said. “Currently we spend $35,000 annually on the program, and we use funds from state aid and local taxes to make it happen.”
Town Board Supervisor Robert Starr explained how the agreement works between the town and school.
“The school ultimately pays [Lowe’s] salary, the mileage, and for gas. In return, Officer Lowe is stationed there full-time to help with security, and when he’s done there, he acts as a part-time officer for the town.”
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