One way or another, there will be two deputies on duty in Clarkston Community Schools this fall.
With Supervisor Dale Stuart and Trustee Daniel Travis dissenting, the Independence Township Board on Tuesday, Aug. 5 voted to pay the entire cost of a second school liaison officer.
The vote came with a “99 percent” expectation that the school district will come up with federal and state grant dollars to pay 50 percent of the second deputy’s services. Further, in the “1 percent” chance that the school district will not have the funds, the township government has committed only to a one-year funding agreement.
The board continued a debate begun in June, when they tackled the question of how — or whether — to make up a shortfall of about $45,000 caused by the school district’s decision last spring to cut funding for the second liaison officer.
Trustees David Wagner and Larry Rosso have met with school Deputy Superintendent David Reschke about the issues. In a memo, Reschke said the budget cut was made in anticipation of the loss of grant money that could support the program.
“Recently, the news from Lansing has been a bit more encouraging,” Reschke wrote to Wagner and Rosso.
“He’s 99 percent sure the money will be coming,” Wagner said. “They do understand this will be a one-time affair.”
Reschke later clarified his “99 percent” statement. Debates in Lansing are such that local school districts normally do not know until September exactly what funding sources will be available and what will be allowed with various grants.
“I’m 99 sure the grants will be approved,” he said. “I’m not quite as sure the [liaison officer] expenditures will be allowable.”
Reschke is confident that a federal “Safe and Drug-Free Schools” grant will be repeated this year. Grant rules allow up to $10,000 to be used for the liaison officer. He hopes the remainder can come from a state “at-risk” grant which was reduced last year but may be sufficient.
School officials must apply for the grant and seek permission to use the funds for the liaison officer, however.
“It’s not a sure thing until they send it to you,” Reschke said.
Township board supporters believe there will be a benefit even if the township police fund has to cover the entire cost of the second position.
“It’s a close call, but I think the liaison officer is an important position,” Trustee Daniel Kelly said.
“There’s more contact with citizens” even if they are younger citizens, Rosso said. “We’re working in a preventive capacity.”
Treasurer James Wenger noted advantages such as using the extra deputy for general patrol during school breaks and as emergency backup elsewhere in the township.
“If we are funding this officer, it is still our call where that officer is,” Wenger said. “We are the ones determining how those officers are being used.”
Stuart remained pessimistic.
“I receive complaints from almost every subdivision” concerning various crime problems, he said. “We do not have enough [deputies] to handle that. If the township is going to spend additional money, it should be for services for the benefit of the greater township.”
Concerning the schools’ implied promise, Stuart said, “The statement they may do something is easy to back out of.”
Travis was unsatisfied with the uncertainty issue, as well.
“I think the schools should come back to us. It would help to know exactly what we’re talking about in terms of dollars,” he said.
Clerk Joan McCrary, who previously had her own questions about the district’s budget actions, ultimately supported the measure
“I feel this is a good thing,” she said. “It’s a needed service. We can extend an olive branch to the Clarkston school district and depend on them to honor their word.”
Reschke said he appreciated the meetings with township trustees.
“I think this is truly a community-minded effort,” he said. “The district values the police liaison program, and we are reluctant to reduce this program at all.”
Without the township funding, Reschke said the plan was to send the high school officer to the middle school in serious situations. School social workers were expected to support the elementary school families.