D91 fully funds new School Resource Officer
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – Idaho Falls School District 91 recently hired a new School Resource Officer for Compass Academy. The district now has five officers overlooking the schools.
The unique thing about the new officer is District 91 is fully funding the position. Typically, the position is split funded by the district and the Idaho Falls Police Department. Two officers are funded in an equal 50% split between the district and the police department, the other two are 70% funded by the district and 30% by the police department.
Idaho Falls High School, Skyline High School and now Compass Academy have SRO's primarily stationed. The other two officers share time between the middle schools and junior high schools.
Officer Timothy Weaver will fill the new role at Compass Academy. He has worked in patrol for IFPD and decided to take on the new role. Only being in the role for two weeks, he is learning the ropes of what it takes to be an SRO.
"It's been very rewarding, challenging learning how to communicate with students. It's a little different than communicating with people on the street," Weaver said.
When IFHS Principal Christopher Powell heard the news about the District's decision he was excited. He says, "My reaction was, 'Yes! Brian's going to be here more!'" Officer Brian Smith currently serves as SRO at IFHS.
Officer Smith used to look over six different schools, but with Officer Weaver, he now only has three schools he primarily sees. But all the SRO's work together to ensure optimal safety for each school in the district.
