In response to the recent school board’s decision to eliminate the School Resource Officer (SRO) position at JWP in order to reduce costs, I urge the community to gather and express their opinions on this matter.

The public forum meeting for the school board will be held on May 19th at 5 p.m. in the media center/library. To register for speaking, please contact Jeremy Erler at Jerler@isd2835.org. You will be allowed to speak for a maximum of three minutes on this matter.

If you believe that this decision is reckless and jeopardizes the safety of students and staff, please email the school board members to voice your concerns.

It is important to recognize that the impact of this decision extends way beyond the school’s immediate building.

The SRO at JWP has significantly contributed to the school’s well-being in numerous ways. Their role encompasses not only effective training in disarming school shooters, but also the establishment of safe and positive interactions. They provide timely response to suicidal teens, serve as role models for our students, fostering a sense of comfort and security in the school environment. Additionally, their training in mental health episodes ensures that appropriate de-escalation measures are taken and accountability is maintained.

I strongly encourage you to attend the public forum meeting or speak directly to the school board members and the superintendent to voice your concerns and opinions regarding this decision. If you are unable to attend, please email the school board members at JWP and the superintendent regarding this matter.

Furthermore, this decision may compromise the safety of the community in the event of additional calls that may arise. In such cases, the on-duty officer will be diverted from responding to calls such as accidents on Highway 14 or other emergencies. For instance, if your parent is experiencing a heart attack, the school’s response may delay the assistance because you would have to wait for Waseca County’s deputy sheriff to arrive as they would need to respond to the call instead.

The community greatly benefits from the presence of a School Resource Officer five days a week. Therefore, it is so important that this position be kept in our school district.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and becoming aware of what’s happening at our school.