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Jeff and John Karlovec

sworn, uniformed member of the department to serve as the full-time school patrol officer throughout the district and two school safety officers commissioned as part-time regular police officers will serve under the guidance of the SPO.

“The main difference between the two is that our SRO with the high school kind of coordinates everything. He is fully dedicated to the school. When the summer months hit, he’s still dedicated to the school,” Chester Township Police Chief Craig Young said. “That individual will work on projects for the upcoming school year, finish up projects from the existing school year, work active shooter training and different types of training scenarios.”

One safety officer from Russell Township will be assigned to Westwood Elementary School and will be considered a school re source officer under the district’s SRO pro gram.

Markwardt said since Westwood is locat ed in Russell Township, that department was asked to be involved as conversations with Chester evolved.

“(Russell police) were enthusiastic partic ipants in the discussions,” Markwardt said. “We will now have a police officer in every one of our buildings. Both elementary build ings, the middle school and the high school.”

West Geauga will pay Russell Township a total of $364,400 for the three-year agree ment and will compensate Chester police department in an amount not to exceed $131,000 annually for one SPO position and $102,000 annually for each SSO position.

Any negotiated pay increase over the base SSO pay of $58,000 per year will be absorbed by Russell Township. The Chester investigations, as well as planning and training pursuant to the latest accepted school security standards, according to the agreement.

“The SPO will coordinate with district safety officers to reduce redundancy in security assignments to streamline effective communication regarding security matters, as well as be responsible for other duties required or assigned by the township,” the Chester agreement read.

Chester safety officers will also be available to provide services at other school sites and special events in the district, including the primary responsibility for door security.

“The SSOs also will be tasked with addressing immediate threats directed toward personnel, students or visitors of the West Geauga school district and will report poten- tigative reports written by an SSO shall also be submitted to the police department and employees will be responsible for other duties as required or assigned by the township.”

Markwardt said the officers will be in place prior to the start of school in August.

“There is no absolute guarantee of safety. Violence can threaten a school, church, concert, shopping mall, grocery store or any public venue as recent events prove. It’s important that each of us does our part to report potential dangers when we see them,” Markwardt said. “Having armed police officers in each of our schools gives us one more layer of protection and a highly valuable tool in our safety arsenal.”

“It’s something we knew we were always going to be able to accomplish,” Young said. “We think it’s a good agreement between the police department and the schools, and we think most importantly it’s a tremendous value for the teachers, faculty and students.”

Markwardt said the agreement reflects the commitment of everyone involved.

“We are very grateful to the trustees of the townships who were willing to enter into this partnership with us,” he said.

Diabetes Self-Management Class

A six-week self-management class that focuses on diabetes will be held Mondays, July 24 through Aug. 28, from 12:30-3 p.m. at the West Geauga Senior Center, 8090 Cedar Road, Chester Township. Seniors 60 years of age and older will get support, find practical ways to deal with pain, fatigue and sugar control, discover better nutrition and exercise choices, understand new treatment choices and learn better ways to communicate with doctors and family about one’s health.

To register for the free class, call Geauga County Department on Aging’s Sandy McLeod at 440-279-2137. Space is limited. Class is sponsored by University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center.