NEWS RELEASE:

The Bucyrus City School District Board of Education unanimously passed a Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Bucyrus and the Bucyrus City Police Department to add a second School Resource Officer (SRO) for the 2018-2019 school year during its regular monthly meeting March 29.

“The addition of a second SRO is a proactive step in keeping students and staff during the school day,” explained Bucyrus Superintendent Kevin Kimmel. “The addition of the second SRO comes at a cost to the district, but it’s one the board felt was necessary.”

The district will be paying 75% of the overall salary and benefits for the new School Resource Officer, which Kimmel sees as a minimal expense when providing Bucyrus students and staff with a safe learning environment.

“Our number one job is to provide Bucyrus children with the highest quality education possible and help them prepare for their future,” Kimmel said. “If spending another $61,000 a year provides a learning environment that makes our students, staff and families feel safer, then that expense is worth every penny.”

Officer Jo Stahl currently serves as the district’s SRO and focuses on Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement and Educational Programming.

“Officer Stahl, or Officer Jo as she’s called at the Elementary, has done a fantastic job helping us navigate through some very challenging situations during this school year,” Kimmel explained. “She’s become part of the Redmen family, and I’m looking forward to welcoming her colleague to the family during the 2018-2019 school year.”

The Board of Education opened its meeting earlier in the evening with student recognition. The first group of students recognized were those whose artwork has been on display at the Lincoln Administrative Center. These students included: Lady Faye McCoy, Trinity Amos, Daren Yaussy, Haleigh Pifer, Meridith Parker, Kelsey Carver, Daniell Predieri, Alexis Adams and Shaina Orewiler.

The second group of students that received commendations were those who have received local, regional or state recognition for their artwork. Those students recognized for these accomplishments included: Samantha Farrar (2018 Ohio Art Education Association’s Young People’s Art Exhibition); Kaitlyn Kuhn (2018 Ohio Art Education’s Association’s Youth Art Month Exhibition); Jalyn Lyons (Crawford County Disability Poster Contest Finalist); Karmyn Blizzard (2018 Ohio House of Representatives Student Art Exhibition).

Elijah Williams (third grade) and Connor Holt (fourth grade) were presented with certificates as grade-level winners in the 2018 Elks Poster Contest for Drug Awareness during the meeting as well.

The board approved all agenda items as presented and then recessed to executive session with no additional action being taken. The next regular meeting of the Bucyrus City School District Board of Education will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Lincoln Administrative Center Thursday, April 26.