Talawanda school district is cutting school resource officers in all three of its elementary schools at the start of the 2023 academic year.

As of now, there are no accommodations to have uniformed law enforcement officers stationed in the schools, as there have been in the past. The officers typically stand near the entrances to the school during pick-up and drop-off periods and provide security.

The district decided to abolish the three positions following budget problems. The three positions equate to $118,365 per year according to the future budget passed in December 2022.

Although paid by the district, resource officers placed at Bogan and Marshall Elementary schools are appointed by the Butler County Sheriff’s Department, while the officer in Kramer elementary school comes from the Oxford Police Department.

The board of education is asking Superintendent  Edward Theroux to reach out to the Butler County Sheriff’s Department and Oxford Police Department in an attempt to keep officers in the elementary schools, according to Talawanda spokeswoman Holli Hansel.

According to Hansel, Theroux will ask the Butler County Sheriff’s Department if an officer can split their time between both Marshall and Bogan Elementary schools rather than getting rid of the officers altogether.

The sheriff’s department is working with the school district but will not be able to give specific answers until closer to the school year, said Capt. Rick Bucheit.

Hansel said the school district intends to ask the Oxford Police Department to spread its resource officers from the middle and high school to help police the elementary school. There is also the option of patrol cars checking in on Kramer, according to Hansel.

Oxford Chief of Police John Jones said he foresees a similar outcome.

Even if there isn’t a law enforcement officer stationed at Kramer, “We’ll stop in there a lot and will come to their different events,” Jones said.

Jones, a self-described champion of school resource officers, said he sees the placement of officers inside schools as a must.

“I can’t think of any more important job we have than protecting children,” Jones said.

In year two of the proposed budget cuts, an OPD school resource officer who is paid $39,000 will be cut from the middle school. Jones said he predicts  the questions that are popping up currently will reappear for the same issue next year.

“Does that mean that the SRO will bounce around or will they stay at the high school?” Jones said. “That’s something we’ll have to work out with the school district.”