Vestal schools hire 5th SRO

VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH) – After months of debate on whether Vestal schools would have six or four school resource officers next school year, the district and the town have settled on five.

The Vestal School District has interviewed and selected a new school resource officer and is now waiting on the town’s approval.

Superintendent Clifford Kasson says the person is another active-duty officer working in the Vestal Police Department.

Last year, Kasson and the town had come to an agreement in which two more veteran officers would be committed to the program so that each Vestal school would have its own dedicated full-time SRO.

The town then hired two recruits to backfill those two positions. However, that decision was second-guessed by the newly elected supervisor and town board members setting off a firestorm of controversy.

After some concern that the district budget wouldn’t have funding to pay its half of the new officers’ salaries, this new agreement was reached, and the fifth SRO was included in the budget that voters approved in May.

• SUNY Broome grad places 2nd in pastry chef of the year competition
• Vestal schools hire 5th SRO
• Chenango Ambulance Services gets Grant from the State
• House of Sport helping limb different athletes participate in sports
• 5-year-old sustains minor injuries after falling 30 feet at Waverly Glen Park

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WIVT - News 34.