SAUGUS — District officials, School Committee members, and parents have all publicly lobbied for the hiring of school resource officers to ensure the security of the town’s schools — yet, Saugus still does not have a single officer in any of its schools.
Funding has been an issue that is “standing in the way”, said acting Superintendent of Schools Michael Hashem. But, School Committee Chair Vincent Serino said Deputy Superintendent Margo Ferrick is working with the town’s police department on what he dubbed “substantial” grants that could fund the position.
“We’re kind of in a holding pattern at this point,” said Hashem, adding that should the town receive the grants, a school resource officer could be in place by the start of the 2023-24 school year. “It’s a question of whether we can secure the funding to get that position available to us.”
Depending on the level of funding, officers could be hired for all three of the town’s school buildings, or for only one. Hashem, the former principal of Saugus High School, noted that the middle/high school complex includes an office set aside for a school resource officer.
While Ferrick was not in attendance to give the committee an update last Thursday, she did provide one in December. She explained that the district would hold a community forum to garner feedback on what people would like to see and to explain how the position would function.
At the time, Ferrick said Police Chief Michael Ricciardelli was seeking additional information from police chiefs in neighboring communities about the specifics of the role and how much it might cost to implement.
On Thursday, Serino sought to assure the community that hiring school resource officers remains a key priority for the committee, adding that officials could look into alternative funding sources — like Chapter 70 money — should they not receive the grant.
“It’s important to everyone here,” Serino said. “It’s something that needs to be done sooner than later.”
“Right now we don’t have the money,” he added.
