Morrisville schools, mayor elect work to get district officer
Posted: Friday, November 15, 2013 4:45 pm | Updated: 6:03 pm, Fri Nov 15, 2013.
Morrisville Councilman Dave Rivella will propose Monday that the council strongly consider hiring a school resource officer for borough schools with help from grants and the Morrisville School District.Rivella, who is mayor-elect, said he hopes the borough council will be “compelled to take this positive step forward.”“Law enforcement agencies can open lines of communication between police officers and students by placing a police officer in the school,” said Rivella. “Many schools throughout the country are turning to school resource officers as a preventative measure against school violence.”
If the council agrees, the district will then apply for a grant, which would put $60,000 toward the cost of the officer for the first year.
But time is of the essence.
The grant application deadline is Nov. 22. So Rivella is making sure that council members receive all the information they need to decide. Delaying the issue isn’t an option, he said, since the next council meeting is in December.
“Because the school resource officer will be from the Morrisville Police Department, the borough must be in agreement for the grant process to move forward,” Rivella said.
He didn't provide more financial information beyond the fact that Darletta Berry Johnson, the district's 21st Century Community Learning Centers representative, managed to find a grant that would cover $60,000 a year. After that the school district can apply again.
"(The district) believes renewing the grant would be in order as there would then be supporting information showing that it works and the benefits of continuing to have the SRO," Rivella said.
How much the borough and district would have to pitch in was not known Friday.
"It's hard to say how much the borough would have to pitch in because I don't know if a current officer would be doing the job or a new hire would be doing this job. Newly hired officers make a lot lower salary for the first couple of years, so depending on which officer becomes the SRO the grant could cover it or be short. The SRO is a Morrisville police officer so it will cost whatever a police officer makes."
More than patrol the schools, the sworn officer would serve as a counselor to students and liaison between the district and the community.
Earlier this week, Rivella met with a school district group that included Superintendent Bill Ferrara and school board President Damon Miller. They discussed the possibility of the borough and the district hiring a school resource officer, Rivella said.
"I believe this position would be helpful in creating preventative programs and intervention in our schools and be beneficial to the Morrisville community," Miller said.
If the council agrees, the district will then apply for a grant, which would put $60,000 toward the cost of the officer for the first year.
But time is of the essence.
The grant application deadline is Nov. 22. So Rivella is making sure that council members receive all the information they need to decide. Delaying the issue isn’t an option, he said, since the next council meeting is in December.
“Because the school resource officer will be from the Morrisville Police Department, the borough must be in agreement for the grant process to move forward,” Rivella said.
He didn't provide more financial information beyond the fact that Darletta Berry Johnson, the district's 21st Century Community Learning Centers representative, managed to find a grant that would cover $60,000 a year. After that the school district can apply again.
"(The district) believes renewing the grant would be in order as there would then be supporting information showing that it works and the benefits of continuing to have the SRO," Rivella said.
How much the borough and district would have to pitch in was not known Friday.
"It's hard to say how much the borough would have to pitch in because I don't know if a current officer would be doing the job or a new hire would be doing this job. Newly hired officers make a lot lower salary for the first couple of years, so depending on which officer becomes the SRO the grant could cover it or be short. The SRO is a Morrisville police officer so it will cost whatever a police officer makes."
More than patrol the schools, the sworn officer would serve as a counselor to students and liaison between the district and the community.
Earlier this week, Rivella met with a school district group that included Superintendent Bill Ferrara and school board President Damon Miller. They discussed the possibility of the borough and the district hiring a school resource officer, Rivella said.
"I believe this position would be helpful in creating preventative programs and intervention in our schools and be beneficial to the Morrisville community," Miller said.
40 comments:
Anyone think Pepi- is interested?
$29,999 no bennies. Final offer.
Stop this cooperation! Your supposed to be fighting.
B's done on Dec 31. Where will the officer hang out???
The TW page on fb is already complaining about this. Not one nice comment in the bunch. One guy starts to say something nice but then realizes the naysayers are going the other direction so changes his tune.
Eileen (the voice of reason - hahaha)seems to have found her new home on this and similar fb pages. That people on those pages actually listen to her just shows how much they don't know.
Hope the armchair quarterbacks can decide for us whether this is a bad or good thing.
Of course there are naysayers...Dave is trying to do something positive, it's a police initiative and he's working well with others. This is how it's going to be from now on. They have found their voice even though they don't know what they're talking about most of the time.
This is definitely something that can be an asset to the school district and to the community. In the Pennsbury School District they used to have a guard at the middle school. A school resource officer is even better because they deal with counseling & education as well as crime situations. I can see where this will be a helpful resource. I hope it happens.
Loved the "$29.999 no bennies. Final offer." Gave me a chuckle.
I'm so confused because Pep's supporters were loving his "all about the children" stuff yet they don't want a resource officer at the schools? They wanted police presence at the schools and Dave is trying to help give that and they don't like it? LOL - just a little transparent.
Stop whining about the children and do something.
Put away the pitch forks and move on.
I don't know how Rita continues to get away scott free in this mess. Her lawsuit took taxpayers money that could have gone for more police...
She is a disgrace. Can't wait to see her go.
To those all over who whine about everything...This officer is through grant money and will bring back a DARE like program, be an educator on various safety and anti bullying programs, will be a resource for the kids to go to to report issues confidentially etc get off your ridiculous asses and stop complaining about everything anyone tries to do thats positive.
Just remember the Aides that may be outsourced as a cost cutting measure. They have developed relationships with the students. The Aides do alot more than people think.
Eileen already posted on facebook that she is not voting for it. So it must be a great project. ugh
Not going to miss her brand of "moving things forward" at all.
Does she mention why?
I read it. It says something about them getting the info on Friday and only having three days. Keep in mind that in the past they have voted on items after having received the info at the same mtg.
It is a short time, but I can understand why. The meeting was held this past week, the information was put together and given to council members. There is a deadline that must be met.
If she can't problem solve and think on her toes she should have ever stepping into that seat.
I easily found a mountain of information on the internet on the subject. If the price is a problem, Eileen has her own copy of their budget. She should be able to look up the bennies. She can also call the office on Monday for any information she needs. She doesn't have time to read her packet yet she has time to play on facebook.
The beenies probably come to between $14,000 and $16,000. So the school district is getting a resource officer and the borough is getting another officer for between $14,000 and $16,000. Not to mention if it's a new hire, the grant will pay for the whole thing because new officers cost less than existing officers.
Saying no because you don't like the person involved is inexcusable. She can't leave fast enough.
Really!!!!! Its more the board locking her out that caused that lawsuit. If they let her do her job either good or bad the lawsuit would have never have happened
Really. Even just as a face for our town, she is an embarrassment. She can't comb her hair and iron her clothes (wash her clothes)
She claimed she wasn't given things because she was a woman - as the self- proclaimed "first woman mayor of Morrisville", she shouldn't have used her gender to get things just because she was a woman. Some woman have worked hard in other male dominated professions and have not asked for luxuries not afforded their male counterparts.
Funny how these things weren't an issue until she decided not to run again. Any chance her disability is almost up?
"Really!!!!! Its more the board locking her out that caused that lawsuit. If they let her do her job either good or bad the lawsuit would have never have happened"
In your haste to defend your incompetent friend, you must not have bothered to read the conversation. The conversation above was taking about Eileen, not Rita.
Does it make a difference. They both are embarrassments to the community, a disgrace that they were ever elected in the first place. Another positive possibility, and instead using the three days available to learn about the project and make an informed vote, they'll post crap about how they didn't get information and are opposed. WTF? I really can't understand how these people live with themselves. Have they no shame whatsoever? They are worse than obstructionists. They are actively trying to make things worse. How do they manage to get elected in the first place. They don't pay their bills and then complain about budget items. They destroy any sense of community with their constant accusations toward others, when it is obvious they are only trying to cover up their own incompetence. Eileen, Rita, GTFO and please don't come back. You've already done enough harm.
Angry teapot Brian Jones (aka Bill Pepitone) strikes again. Calling Morrisvillians "fools" if we oppose a merger with PBury. I guess it's foolish to not want your child to be 1 of 3300 children in one building...?
I guess it's foolish to want your child to know everyone they graduate with and want to invest in the town's future.
Peps only cares about himself (make me chief/ make me mayor/ make me chief again even though much more qualified applicants have applied).
Brian Jones/ Bill Pepitone does not care about Morrisville - he only cares about widening the divisions until he can sell his house.
Tonight, council voted 5-2 to proceed with pursuing the grant for the resource (i.e. police) officer.
Jeff Johnson was absent. The no votes were Eileen Dreisbach and Todd Sanford, correct? I was in the back, and it was hard to hear.
Correct Jon. Ms. Smith stepped up!!
I'm thankful that Mr. Miller and Mr. Ferrara were there to help Mr. Rivella sell the project to everyone.
It was obvious to me that when Mr. Cicero spoke, clearly he was trying to sway council into a no vote but could see it wasn't going to go that way. I'm relieved that they did the right thing.
To whomever is heckling from the public, you made it very hard to hear what was being said at the meeting. If you read this I am asking that you please be respectful.
It's hard to convince people to have respect during the meetings when the mayor's cell phone keeps ringing in the middle if the meeting. And then she leaves to take the call.
Who is the person who said he wants the fourth ward seat? Is he a pep boy?
There were two. I think the first one is, not sure about the second.
Last night, 2 people said they were interested in the 4th Ward council seat vacancy (created when Dave Rivella becomes Mayor).
Brian Tomasulo and Kevin Larison.
Do Pep Boys do everything for less?
Last night, I heard that only one person had actually done it correctly and sent in a letter to be considered for the seat, Ted Parker. It really is a step down that now people are just speaking at public comment to promote themselves.
It was the second time I heard Pepitone speak at a council meeting and the second time I had no idea what his problem is.
Oh good, I'm glad Ted Parker applied! He'd be a good addition to council.
Agreed. He is intelligent, respectful and can't be bullied. His decision making ability is already clear to see. He has worked on the school district budget which is far more than the borough budget, so he comes in with that experience as well. I hope his is chosen in January.
"he is" sorry
Agreed - Ted would be a welcome addition to Council. He has worked hard with the School Board.
Is Ted off the school board in January or would he need to step down? I was hoping Mary Singleton would throw her hat in, but Ted would also be a good addition.
He has two years left on the board, so he would have to step down. A replacement would have to be voted on for school board if he was picked for council. I think Mary Singleton should apply for the school board if Ted's seat opens up.
there must be a better replacement than Mary Singleton. do your homework
I agree. No offense meant, keep looking.
Gail Haug!
Gail wants nothing to do with being on the board and who can blame her. Board is to lily for me needs to represent the make up community better
It sounds like Gayle is smarter than the rest of us.
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