Elk Grove school officer to report for duty Monday, after village, District 59 finalize pact
Elk Grove Township Elementary District 59 will pay Elk Grove Village $128,366 for its first school resource officer, who is expected to report for duty Monday at Grove Junior High School.
That's three-quarters of the cost of the police officer's $171,154 salary and benefit package - essentially covering the nine-month school year.
The compensation formula is one part of an intergovernmental agreement approved by the village board Tuesday and the school board Monday.
Both elected panels agreed to sign onto the 12-page document after little discussion at their meetings this week. But the formalities come after months of pressure by Mayor Craig Johnson on District 59 leaders, who he at one point accused of "dragging their feet" on the issue.
After Johnson ordered cops to increase foot and squad car patrols outside Grove on Oct. 2 in response to three previous safety incidents, Superintendent Terri Bresnahan agreed to put the matter of a full-time officer up for a vote at the school board's Oct. 9 meeting.
"We will make sure that no young person will ever feel afraid in an Elk Grove school again - that should never happen," Johnson said Tuesday night. "No parent should ever feel afraid of their child going to school in Elk Grove - that will never happen."
The officer will be trained in gang, alcohol and drug resistance curricula, have experience in matters involving cultural diversity, and "must be able to function as a strong role model," according to the agreement.
The officer is expected to maintain a high level of visibility during school entrance and dismissal times and passing periods. The agreement also states that the officer will establish a working relationship with behaviorally at-risk students and teach safety lessons.
The school resource officer will investigate and respond to student conduct at the school's request, de-escalate arguments and conflicts, and use police authority "in necessary situations," according to the pact.
But the officer's body worn camera should be off if there isn't a crime being investigated, officials agreed.
Anytime the camera is on during an interview of a student, a parent and superintendent will be notified.