BOS to consider expanding SRO program

By Mike Berger

Selectmen Chairman Bob Burr said last week that the board is fully behind the Canton Police Department’s efforts to improve school safety and it is open to hearing more about Police Chief Ken Berkowitz’s proposal to expand the school resource officer program beginning in the next budget year.

Burr said he needs to look more closely at the budget data to determine if the expansion is feasible; however, he agreed that student safety is a top priority and also one that requires a commitment from all town departments.

“Among the most important responsibilities for members of the Board of Selectmen is that of ensuring public safety; this includes safety at the schools,” said Burr. “The Board of Selectmen and the School Committee enjoy a good working relationship. I am confident our board and the committee will work together to do all that is necessary to keep the Canton Public Schools safe. If this means added school resources for our Police Department, then so be it.”

Berkowitz had first made mention of the idea during a January 8 presentation to the School Committee — a meeting that focused mostly on the implementation of a new emergency response protocol modeled after the ALICE system. (ALICE stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter and Evacuate). Citing the success of the CHS and Blue Hills programs under Detective Chip Yeaton and Officer Scott Connor, the chief announced that he would be seeking additional funding to expand the SRO program to other schools throughout the district.

Berkowitz did not go into the details of his proposal, although he intends to do so in the coming weeks as part of a formal budget presentation to selectmen.

“I know that the School Committee and the Board of Selectmen are both anxious to hear about our plans during the upcoming budget process,” he said. “I want to thank School Superintendent Jeff Granatino, Detective Yeaton, and Officer Connor for all their hard work and partnership in this project.”

Berkowitz added that he was “very pleased” that the School Committee supported the department’s proposed security enhancements — measures, he said, that have been studied and carefully planned for over a year.

“In the next week or two, we will be announcing a public information session for parents and guardians to learn more about this lifesaving program,” said Berkowitz. “Simultaneously, we will continue to train staff and first responders. After that, educators will begin to orient and train Canton Public School students in an age-appropriate manner.”

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