Expanding Anti-Drug Effort and School Resource Officer Position Involves All of Johnston

A long-awaited second school resource officer in the Johnston Community School District is finally becoming a reality, thanks to a total community effort.

The community fundraising effort has raised more than $60,000 to fund a second school resource officer and expand the current 411 Program to seventh- and ninth-grade students.

"We've been talking about it for a good two years," Johnston Police Chief Bill Vaughn said. "Each and every time I went to a fifth-grade 411 graduation, I used it as an opportunity to remind parents of the importance of prevention and the SRO."

Vaughn said the biggest obstacle when pursuing the new position was budget.

"That prompted me to go to the mayor (Paula Dierenfeld) and Clay (Guthmiller, superintendent of schools) and ask what about trying some fundraising to make it a reality. Because we all felt strongly, they kind of set me loose."

And so Vaughn, as well as district officials and community members, set out to raise the money to provide for the salary, benefits, training and instruction materials needed for the position.

Vaughn said an "ask letter" was sent to a number of local businesses seeking donations.

Pioneer Hi-Bred was just one business that stepped up to the plate, donating $10,000 to the cause.

The effort also received a $25,000 Community Betterment Grant from the Polk County Board of Supervisors.

Bruce Amendt, executive director of academic services in the school district, said the fundraising will provide the district time to prepare for future years of the expanded position.

"This affords the district time to look at the budget process for the next fiscal year to meet the needs for the future," he said.

Vaughn said the city and district both contribute to paying the SRO salary. The district contributes 60 percent, while the city pays 40 percent, however that  could always be revised.

Amendt said the effort is just another way the district and city show their dedication to students.

"You have the city, the community school district worrying to meet the youth, student needs," he said. "It sends a strong message to kids when they see the city, police department and school district cares about them and has a united focus."

Vaughn said he's proud to have such a strong relationship with the school district.

"Every time I get out and about and circulate with peers, you hear about some of the struggles they have with their programing, I'm always in a good position. I enjoy probably the best partnership with any school district here in this area."

Expanded Programing
The new position will not only continue with the nine-week fifth-grade 411 program, but expand it to seventh- and ninth-grade classes.

The current 411 Program teaches fifth-grade students about the health and legal consequences of using drugs, alcohol and tobacco while emphasizing the importance of making good decisions and preparing students for the phase of their lives when at-risk behavior is present.

The expanded program would put an officer in front of seventh- and ninth-grade classes four times per school year.

"The driving force for me on this, we graduate kids from fifth grade and ask teem to pledge to a drug free life," Vaughn said. "Up to this point that was the last time we touched them, unless they got in trouble, and that does happen."

At the middle school level the temptation for at-risk behavior is "fast and furious," Vaughn said.

"They need to be reminded," he said. "This isn't as intense, but strategically placed in the school year to remind students of the importance of good decisions."

Amendt said that while at first glance four classes might not seem like much but when you consider each grade encompasses close to 500 students that is quite a time commitment.

"Seventh and ninth grade, those are very formative years," he said. "This is preventative information and preventative skills."

The focus of the program will be determined by the utilization of local data, as well as information from the Iowa Youth Survey.

Designing the curriculum has fallen largely to current 411 officer Rick Kirkeby and district prevention coordinator Chris Wilson, Amendt said.

Through the partnership with the police department, the program will be able to bring in professionals such as a representative from the medical examiners office and court system to talk with students, Vaughn said.

While the bulk of the position will focus on the expansion of 411, the officer will also assume some SRO duties.

"To some extent, we know that position will have time to do some SRO duties, but until we step into it and live with it for a period of time, we don't know how it will shake out, but that will be the collateral duties to that," Vaughn said. "The need for a second SRO officer has been there for a very long time."

The current ratio in the district is one SRO officer for about 6,500 students.

"Jessica (Jensen, current SRO officer) has a tough time spreading herself though different schools, most of her day is spent between the middle school and high school," Vaughn said.

There is currently no other offer able to backfill the SRO position when Jensen is sick or attending training, Vaughn said.

"We view the presence of an officer in the building as a positive," Amendt said. "The hope is students see them as another adult in their lives, someone there to assist and help them."

While Kirkeby would be the natural choice for the position, Vaughn said there are hiring processes that have to be followed by the department.

The two years of dedicated work will come to head on Nov. 5, when the Johnston City Council is expected to approve an action item for formal approval to move forward with the implementation, Vaughn said.

The city and school district will host a short reception at about 6:45 p.m. that evening to thank local businesses and community members for their efforts and donations.

Vaughn said the money is available for the expanded program to begin in November.

"The schools welcome partnering with the city," Amendt said. "It enhances education for students, as well as, makes Johnston a great place to live and grow and be."