Eastmont Board Approves School Resource Officer Search

The Eastmont School Board voted 4-1 Monday night to move forward with a contract with the East Wenatchee Police Department for a School Resource Officer (SRO).

The board will be part of the selection committee and will have the final say, even if that means no candidate is chosen.

Board member Cindy Wright said she recently met with Chief Rick Johnson and was very frank with him on the issue.

"I said I don't want you to put an officer in our school that's 'on duty to retire.' That alarms me." explained Wright, "I want the gung-ho officer that's there that's about building relationships and protecting our community."

The soonest an SRO could be available is January.

Board President Annette Eggers, who was the only member to vote against the proposal, said the proposals and testimony she heard did not convince her a paid position will make things any better, especially when the district is paying 60% of the cost.

"With salary benefits estimated over time and uniform, supplies and equipment that's almost $81,000 a year for basically eight months. That's just over $10,000 a month for one officer," added Eggers.

The cost related to the SRO will be built into next year's budget.

The SRO will spend the majority of their time at the high school and junior high.