ASK THE MAYOR
SROs having positive impact on El Campo schools
MAYOR PHILLIP SPENRATH

In a recent tour of our new El Campo Middle School, I had a special opportunity to witness the positive impact and camaraderie that our School Resource Officers have on both teachers and students. As the bell for lunch rang, Officer Jennifer Mican was walking through the halls answering teachers' questions and shaking hands with smiling students.

Officer Mican's presence and demeanor sent a clear message that our local law enforcement officials are here to provide cooperative assistance and necessary protection when needed.

At El Campo High School, our greatly appreciated SRO is Robert Holder. Officer Holder can regularly be seen walking hallways and positioned amid crowds of students before, during and after school. As a teacher, it has been reassuring to see Officer Holder stationed among the many after-school buses loading and unloading students.

Along with attentive faculty members, Officer Holder encourages students to walk in the protected areas during this high traffic time. In furthering student safety, Officer Holder meets and directs all visitors to the appropriate destination to register with the Front Office to ensure a secure campus.

Please remember that our SROs do not assist in day-to-day school administrative duties such as dealing with the discipline, the dress code or truancy.

In addition to enforcing the law, our officers provide school officials and concerned parents with immediate contact information and answers whenever legal concerns arise.

It is important to note that our SROs were enlisted to serve in a proactive role rather than being reactive to existing issues. As stated in past articles, our school officials do not perceive there to be current criminal or drug related problems on any of our campuses.

As a result of many disheartening national stories concerning school shootings, gang violence and excessive teen drug use, many area and regional high schools have started employing their own police forces. The daily presence of these police officers will allow students to become familiar with the officers' role in our community and hopefully build a relationship based on respect and understanding of the police department's importance throughout El Campo.

Our SROs are employed by the city of El Campo and coordinate their duties and activities with our local Police Department.

The El Campo ISD has contracted with our city to provide all of the initial start-up costs and continuing expenses like patrol cars, uniforms, training, etc.

Pursuant to the SRO contract, ECISD is reimbursing the city for the officers wages during their involvement in all school related activities.

In addition, the recently purchased patrol vehicles are city-owned and are made available for regularly scheduled patrols during non-school hours.

Officers Mican and Holder's extensive knowledge of our campuses, and the activities taking place on them, have and will provide crucial insight and awareness in daily and "crisis type" situations. During summer months and holidays, our SROs will be integrated into our existing police department officer rotation thereby freeing up opportunities for other city designated patrol officers to take their yearly vacations.

El Campo ISD and your City Council and staff should be commended for making campus safety a priority for our students, teachers and community. El Campo continues to be a forwardlooking city by providing numerous opportunities for growth, economic development, and prosperity for present and future generations of citizens.

As your mayor, my primary objective continues to be preparing El Campo for the future while maintaining our community's friendly smalltown atmosphere.

- Send comments or questions to askthemayor@sbcglobal.net.