OBSERVER photo by Jimmy McCarthy Fredonia Schools’ Superintendent Jeffrey Sortisio discusses his vision for a comprehensive program that could include a school resource officer at Tuesday’s board of education meeting. Sortisio told board members a comprehensive program must be defined before the district and village commit to one another.

Discussions over a possible school resource officer are beginning between Fredonia Schools’ Superintendent Jeffrey Sortisio and Fredonia Police Chief Brad Meyers.

The school has gone without a resource officer for a few years, and an agreement couldn’t be made between the village and district following discussions in 2016. Sortisio, who’s had school resource officers during his administrative career, told board of education members at Tuesday’s meeting that the village and district must define a comprehensive program before committing to one another.

Between increased mental health issues and demographic changes, Sortisio acknowledged that it could be beneficial to bring on a social worker to invest in student needs. Sortisio said part of the approach could also be in the form of a school resource officer.

“The best situations with SROs are those who have been connected with programs,” he said. “I think one of the things that we need to look at as we go forward is not simply reintroducing a model we might know or already knew. It’s not a judgment on what happened prior to my arrival because I don’t know. I’ve heard good things and I’ve heard maybe we could have done more. The right SRO relationship could be beneficial for our community in the right model.”

Sortisio said a school resource officer wouldn’t only be in place for safety, which he said is the No. 1 priority every day that he steps into the building. A school resource officer would also be utilized to connect with students and staff, assist in emergency plans, work with teachers and staff on a healthy lifestyle and work hand-in-hand to conduct home visits with at-risk families.

The superintendent also acknowledged that the district should bear some of the costs for the necessary training. He said he’d also like to have reporting procedures and an evaluation tool in place for the village and school boards.

In addition, Sortisio said he’d like to have a member or members of the school district trained to effectively interact and communicate with the resource officer, if one was approved. Sortisio said he’ll sit down with Fredonia Police Chief Brad Meyers, who was in attendance Tuesday, to further discuss matters.

Board members were receptive to the superintendent’s ideas and further discussing a program with Meyers. Board President Michael Bobseine said it would be suitable for Sortisio and Meyers to continue discussions and come back to the board on how to further proceed.

“(Between) defining that program, how can we look differently if we want to, and how can the village help us with that, I know those are discussions that really need to take place to see what our opportunities are and how this all might fit,” Bobseine said. “I know it’s not likely to be a quick sort of thing. We were working on a contract at one point. Now we’re looking at it more broadly and how these pieces fit together.”

Meyers told the board he has no problem meeting with the superintendent to come with a more solid program. Bobseine expressed the district’s appreciation for the village police’s dedication to the safety and welfare of students and staff.

“It’s never been a question (and) never been an issue,” Bobseine said. “I think we’ve stumbled over this SRO issue, but it hasn’t effected the relationship.”

Teachers and parents continued to show their support for Middle School Principal Andy Ludwig at Tuesday’s meeting. Julie LaGrow and Heather Davis each handed the board a petition containing a number of signatures from those who want to see Ludwig’s return.

Ludwig still hasn’t returned to his position, according to teachers and staff. Several spoke to the board on the matter, including middle school student Lucy Prevet.

“The whole mood of the middle school has changed,” she said. “He’s the best principal you’ll ever get.”