Ohio County Schools Ending Resource Officer Contract With County Commission
WHEELING -- Ohio County Schools won't renew its contract with the Ohio County Sheriff's Department to provide prevention resource officers next year, and the school district instead will consider a path to hire retired law enforcement to fill in where needed.
At present, Ohio County Schools pays the Wheeling Police Department to provide six PROs to provide security at school buildings, while the Ohio County Sheriff's Department is contracted for three to do the job.
But Ohio County deputies recently received a 23% across the board pay increase, and County Administrator Randy Russell explained the cost proposed to Ohio County Schools for the next school year had to reflect that move.
He said the price offered was for $84,500 per deputy, which Jones told board members was a 40% increase over this year.
"I understand they are going to consider going a different route as a result of an increased cost to them," Russell explained.
"The amount is basically our costs for nine months for each deputy."
He acknowledged the move will permit the county to use the PRO deputies for road patrol.
"Good law enforcement officers are hard to find, and we'll make the best use of these deputies that we can," Russell continued. "We'll use them the best way we can on the road, and in the best ways to keep our residents safe.
"If the school district can figure a less expensive way to have PROs, that's good for them."
Jones told Ohio County Board of Education members Monday night "the cost of providing county officers has increased substantially."
"We were informed of that two or three weeks ago by Mr. Russell. We shared with him we would not be recommending that we pay that type of increase. He understood," Jones said.
Jones said he will meet with Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron this week to discuss a situation where the school district would partner with the city on a possibility of hiring retired law enforcement officers to provide security in the schools.
"They are short some officers, so they can't provide us with all active duty officers," Jones continued. "But we have learned we can use officers who have retired, so long as they keep up with all their credentials -- firearms training, background checks -- we can hire them for our schools at a lower cost, and fill some of our positions."
He said Monongalia County Schools hires retired officers, and has a waiting list of those seeking to be a PRO. The move could allow Ohio County Schools to place at least one PRO in all 13 school buildings, Jones explained.
If a partnership could not be established with the city of Wheeling, there are outside firms that could be retained to hire the officers and make certain of their credentials.
Jones noted the PRO deputies currently in Ohio County Schools "had been incredible," and moving away from their contract was not a reflection on their job performance.
Board member David Croft said he didn't want to vote on any deal Monday, but wanted to instead take time to research any alternatives. This includes the retention of a security agency who trains PROs.
The board, however, did vote unanimously against renewing the contract with the Ohio County Sheriff's Department, and to next look at a path to bring retired law enforcement in as PROs.
Jones added that he also had spoken with several PROs, Sheriff Tom Howard and Chief Deputy John Schultz about the move. Both Howard and Schultz are prior PROs with Ohio County Schools, and Schultz was present at Monday's meeting.
"The Ohio County Sheriff's Department did not know there was going to be a significant increase," Schultz told board members. "We were never informed about it. With our relationship with the school system, we did find out about it from our school administrators. The sheriff's office was blindsided, basically.
"We hope that in the future we can revisit this again. We do wish them well."
Board president Andy Garber added that "was always an option."
Russell denied after the meeting that the sheriff's department was in any way "blindsided" on the issue.
"Sheriff Howard and his staff are aware that personnel costs in the sheriff's department have risen dramatically this fiscal year," Russell said. "The county commission is only trying to cover the costs of having the PROs in the schools."
In other matters during the board meeting, Katie Redd was hired as a language arts and performing arts teacher at Wheeling Park High School. An alumnus of the WPHS speech team and theater program, she will succeed the retiring William Cornforth in the department.
The board unanimously approved the purchase of the software licensing for world language textbooks for Ohio County Schools at a cost of $124,313. The move does not include the purchase of any hard copy texts, but if needed these can be obtained, explained Walt Saunders, federal programs director.
Ohio County Schools will also spend $443,999 to pave the roads leading behind WPHS, including the road to the track area and the back parking lot. The work will be done by crews from Casto and Baker.
The board's next meeting will take place on a different day from its typical time Monday. The board will next convene at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 22, at the board office.