Eastmont School Board Hears Presentation on Adding School Resource Officer

The Eastmont School Board continued its discussion on the subject of adding a School Resource Officer (SRO) Monday when it heard from East Wenatchee Police Chief Rick Johnson, Mayor Jerrilea Crawford and another SRO that currently works in Chelan County.

Johnson presented a proposal that outlined what they wanted to accomplish by having an SRO program.

Superintendent Garn Christensen said the board ultimately decided to table the discussion for now and take it back up in June or July.

"Only about 35%, based on the latest numbers I've seen of schools in our country, have SROs." explained Christensen, "So it's not something that's widespread, but it is in some school districts."

Eastmont has had an SRO in the past, but it's been more than a decade.

Under Chief Johnson's proposal, Eastmont would pay 60% of the SRO's salary, with the police department paying the rest. Under the proposal, the school district would pay roughly $80,000 annually.