Senator Gallivan Announces Funding to Support School Resource Officers & Other Education Programs

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan (R-C-I, Elma) announced he has secured additional state funding to support the presence of school resource officers (SRO’s) in several local school districts.  The aid is being provided to school districts and law enforcement agencies in order to provide a uniformed officer in schools as a way to promote student safety, conflict resolution and anti-bullying initiatives. 

“This additional funding is above and beyond the increased education aid these schools received as part of the state budget,” Gallivan said.  “As a former state trooper and Erie County Sheriff, I believe strongly in the SRO program.  It’s a great way to build a positive relationship between law enforcement and students.  Officers get to know the school and the students, and students get to know the officer.”

Erie 2 Chautauqua-Cattaraugus BOCES will receive $110,000 to fund a full-time Erie County Sheriff’s deputy to serve as an SRO in the Alden, Holland, Springville and North Collins school districts.  The officer will spend most of his time in the districts’ high schools.
 
“School Resource Officers have become an important piece to our Sheriff’s Office patrol duties and receiving dedicated funding for the Alden, Holland, Springville and North Collins school districts will allow the Sheriff’s Office to remain a visible symbol to parents, teachers and students and provide an additional level of public safety throughout the communities,” said Erie County Sheriff Timothy B. Howard.

The following schools and agencies will also receive funding to support SRO’s:

• The West Seneca Police Department will receive $25,000 to partially fund a growing SRO program at West Seneca Central Schools.

• Iroquois Central Schools will receive $18,000 to help support a full-time SRO.

• The Wyoming County Sheriff’s Office will receive $58,871 to provide a full-time SRO for the Attica and Letchworth school districts.

• Warsaw Central School District will receive $16,000 to fund a part-time SRO.

• Perry Central School District will receive $15,500 to fund a part-time SRO.

• The Wheatland-Chili School District and the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office will receive a total of $50,000 to support a part-time SRO.

Gallivan also secured additional funding to expand classroom curriculum and teacher training programs at several other school districts.

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wyoming County will receive $116,500 to continue the Ag in the Classroom program at participating schools in southern Erie, Wyoming, Livingston and Genesee counties.  The program provides agriculture based curriculum to students and helps them to better understand the important role the agriculture industry plays in their community.  The Eden Central School District will also receive $15,000 to begin an Ag in the Classroom Program in conjunction with Erie County Cornell Cooperative Extension.

“The Ag in the Classroom Program has been very successful and is seen as a model for school districts across the state.  It’s important that we continue the program and expand it where possible,” Gallivan said.

Additional funding has also been provided to the East Aurora School District and the York School District.  East Aurora will get $25,000 to support remedial education classes throughout the district and York will receive $20,000 for a pilot program on teacher training and mentoring.        

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