School Cop Coming to St. Johnsbury?

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Created on Thursday, 21 March 2013 18:35

Written by Courtland Hanley

ST. JOHNSBURY - Following the tragedy at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut last December, schools nationwide have been taking extra security precautions. The St. Johnsbury School may soon be joining in on the efforts.

There is currently discussion amongst the school board in St. Johnsbury about hiring a police officer to monitor the school. There are currently two different options they are looking at. 

The first would be to pay a St. Johnsbury Police Department officer to watch over the school for approximately ten hours a week. The other choice, which seems to be the current preference, would be to provide an office space for an officer within the school building. This option would cost the district nothing.

The school board is still discussing many of the specifications concerning the issue, such as the officer's particular duties. Security is a significant issue that St. Johnsbury Superintendent Ranny Bledsoe wants the school to hone. "We are doing it to absolutely be as aggressive as we can about making the school the most absolutely safest place it can be. We feel by all the standards of the nation we are already a safe school."

There has been no commitment yet to hiring an officer. However, the issue will continue to headline school board meetings for weeks to come.