KEARNEY — The annual School Resource Officer report was delivered to the Kearney school board during their meeting on Monday, Aug. 14.
Sgt. J.C. Small with the Kearney Police Department (KPD) and a School Resource Officer (SRO) said that, including himself, there are four SROs – Cody Weldon, Nate Dennis and Boyd Weller.
Small said that the KPD and the Kearney school district enjoy a strong relationship that benefits them both.
Small quoted the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO), which stated that an SROs time should ideally be divided between law enforcement (20 percent), being an educator (40 percent) and being an informal counselor (40 percent).
Currently, Small said the Kearney SROs time is being spent 35 percent of the time on law enforcement, 15 percent on education and 50 percent on informal counseling. He noted they are working to bridge the gaps.
Small said the SROs also spend a good deal of their time training. Small said the presentation would have been delivered by SRO Weldon, but he was at a training regarding active shootings.
As for the SRO coverage, Small said that there is always an SRO at Kearney High School, while the other SROs attend the two middle schools and elementary schools, with responsibility being divided down Second Ave.
During the 2022-2023 school year, there were 286 incidents with a 64 percent clearance rate. Small noted their clearance rate is above the national average. There were also 211 incidents resolved without criminal consequence.
Of those incidents, Small said, disturbances made up 27 percent, drugs and nicotine cases, 18 percent; assault, 13 percent; child abuse or neglect, nine percent and sexual assault or obscenities, eight percent.
Building relationships plays a key part in keeping both students and staff safe, Small said.
A student feeling comfortable enough to tell an SRO about a potential threat could be the difference between successful intervention or an incident occurring.
Dan Endorf, Student Services and Safety Director, also summarized items from the Emergency Operations Plan that the board would consider later in the meeting.
Endorf noted the most pressing issues in the district were the shared public park/playground at Park Elementary, KHS radios, improved classroom doors, the Central Elementary entrance way and more security cameras.
When asked by board member Paul Hazard, Small said in his opinion the most pressing item outside of addressing Park Elementary was the radios. He said communication is a key during any incident.
The board then considered the KPS Emergency Operations Plan (EOP).
Board member Drew Blessing thanked everyone who worked on the EOP, saying he hopes the district never has to use it, but they are prepared for the eventuality.
Hazard said that something everyone could agree on was the safety of their children. He noted when the district asks for more radios and cameras, the community must step up to help answer the call.
After the EOP was approved, Superintendent Jason Mundorf thanked the board for approving his request to create the Student Services and Safety Director and bringing on Endorf to fill the position.
The position has, “paid dividends,” Mundorf said.
Carol Kreutzer, Family and Consumer Science teacher at KHS was recognized during the meeting.
Kreutzer had named the Family and Consumer Sciences Teachers of Nebraska (FCSTN) Teacher of the Year for professionals with over 16 years of experience in July.
“She has been teaching Family and Consumer Sciences for 40 years, the last 15 at Kearney High School. Kreutzer is also an FCCLA advisor at Kearney High School and chartered a chapter at Sumner-Eddyville-Miller when she taught there,” according to KPS.
The board also received a construction update, which noted that the Bryant and Emerson Elementary work was complete with only a few punch list items to complete.
At Northeast Elementary, the school is open and the new classroom and calm room remodel has been completed.
The remaining work is waiting on several items, including a make up air unit to ship later this month and an Energy Recovery Ventilator, to ship in September.
The remaining work to be scheduled to complete with minimal interference to school schedule.
At Horizon Middle School, the Exterior Insulation Finishing Systems (EIFS) at the front canopy is now complete. There is some remaining work that will be delayed until next spring and summer.
During the regular agenda, the board approved a revised Memorandum of Agreement (MOU) with the Merryman Performing Arts Center. It was noted this year the agreement was changing from an annual renewal to a four-year contract.
An MOU for both the University of Nebraska – Kearney and Central Community College (CCC) for dual credit classes.
Board member Kathy Gifford said it is fortunate that the students have access to these classes and noted CCC is easily accessible right across the street from the high school.
An MOU with CCC for an auto instructor was also approved, with the board noting this position was important to the members and were pleased an instructor was found on short notice.
The board also set a special budget retreat meeting for Aug. 23 at 12 p.m. and the annual budget hearing for Sept. 20 at 5:30 p.m.
Blessing said that if property taxes are a concern to residents, those are two meetings that should be attended.
