Sheriff's deputies back at Burlington, Kaneland high schools
Teachers at Burlington Central High School received an unexpected but welcome surprise at a school breakfast Monday. Joining them was Kane County Sheriff's Deputy Matt Humm.
"When I announced that officer Humm was reinstated, there was a thunderous applause and happiness that spread throughout the district," Superintendent Todd Stirn said.
For the past month, it didn't look like Humm, or his counterpart at Kaneland High School, officer Sarah Conley, would patrol the halls at the schools.
Sheriff Don Kramer reassigned the officers at the end of the last school year to bolster the countywide police patrols. He explained to school officials and county board members that medical and military leaves had cut holes in all of his regular patrol shifts. His first duty, Kramer said at the time, was to ensure the safety of all county residents.
A storm of criticism followed from school officials, parents and county board members concerned about the safety of students. Board members called on Kramer to change his mind. They indicated Kramer's request for $1.2 million in new spending for 2017 would be weighed against his decision to pull the officers from local schools.
Kramer stood his ground just two weeks ago. He pointed to the lack of an agreement on the contracts with Burlington and Kaneland regarding the school resource officers as one major stumbling block.
On Monday, the contracts still weren't signed. But both officers were back in the schools.
"This situation is not ideal," read a statement issued by Kramer's office regarding the switch in thinking. "Staffing shortfalls still exist at the sheriff's office. The sheriff's office values the community input received and will continue to keep an open line of communication with all Kane County citizens."
Superintendents at both school districts said they were pleased with the decision. The understanding is both officers will be called to regular patrol duty from time to time. With the exception of those few days, both officers will roam the halls as usual.
"The days they will be gone are completely manageable from our perspective," said Kaneland Superintendent Todd Leden. "Our understanding is there will be a rotation. One of the days when someone is needed back on patrol may be our SRO, and then the next time it would be Burlington's SRO. But we already manage the occasional days officers are gone for training or sick days. We are very pleased."
County board member Drew Frasz was one of the board members who criticized Kramer's decision to pull the officers from the schools. He said he's glad Kramer changed his mind in time for the start of school.
"I have to give him credit," Frasz said. "This is an issue that went from a spark to a fire in a couple weeks. Hopefully, we can sit down and talk about the sheriff's staffing now. This decision buys us some time to explore the options. He has an unusual circumstance with the number of medical leaves and military leaves. I think the sheriff will find the board a little more receptive. I certainly will be."