June 26, 2013 THE VILLADOM TIMES III • Page 7 Ho-Ho-Kus Trustees introduce new SRO, approve agreement by Jennifer Crusco Last week, the Ho-Ho-Kus Board of Education approved a shared services agreement that brought Police Officer Sean Leonard one step closer to officially becoming the Ho-Ho-Kus Public School’s first school resource officer. This week, the Ho-Ho-Kus Council is expected to seal the deal by voting in favor of the new arrangement. Leonard was introduced to the school community as the SRO on June 18. “I received the key to the school,” Leonard said. “I’m looking forward to my new responsibilities. I will be wearing three hats: police officer, mentor, and teacher. I cannot wait for September!” Leonard recently completed an SRO training class. He is also taking classes at Ramapo College as he works toward his teaching certification. Leonard is known to many students at the school, where he runs the annual Junior Police Academy along with Police Officers M Mosca and Anthony Balestrieri and Sergeant Christopher Minchin. The program will run from July 8 through 12 this year. While the push toward naming an SRO became a salient issue following the Newtown, Connecticut school shooting in December of 2012, Leonard’s new duties will include more than security. A sample curriculum lists multiple responsibilities, such as establishing and maintaining a professional relationship with school officials and assisting school officials with preventing and investigating school truancies. The SRO will also be responsible for crime prevention, and for documenting and investigating all offenses and criminal acts that occur on school property. He will work in concert with the Ho-HoKus Police Department Juvenile Bureau and the Bergen County Prosecutor’s Office regarding bias incidents, abuse, assault, and any other serious offense that affects the student body. He will also serve on various committees, and will work to ensure that students and parents are directed to the proper social service agencies, when needed. Leonard will present classes on various This week (Tuesday, June 25) the HoHo-Kus Council will take re-votes on a pair of bond ordinances that include funds for improvements that include road resurfacing, the acquisition of equipment and vehicles, and water system improvements. Last month, the council voted to approve both ordinances, but an astute borough official subsequently pointed out that the adoption of bond ordinances requires a minimum of four of the six council members voting in the affirmative. When the council voted on the bond ordinances on May 28, Council Members Two bond ordinances must be approved anew topics, including drug education, school violence, bullying, and stranger awareness. He will also handle bicycle and pedestrian safety and conflict resolution between students. In addition, Leonard will assist school officials with safety matters, including lock down drills. He will serve as the liaison between the school and the police, and will provide law enforcement information to students and school personnel. He will also assume primary responsibility for handling calls for service from the school and coordinating the response of other police. According to the shared services agreement, the SRO will begin his new responsibilities on Sept. 1, 2013 and continue through June 24, 2014. He will be required to check in at police headquarters before and after his work at the school. At the end of the school year, he will resume his duties as a police officer. (continued on page 27) Doug Troast, Kevin Shea, and Kim Weiss were absent from the meeting. Both votes were unanimous, and there was no comment from the public on either proposal. Ordinance 1021 includes $275,000 for the resurfacing of various borough roads and the reconstruction of curbs as necessary. This appropriation includes a down payment of $13,100. The balance will be funded by bonds and notes. Earlier this year, the council awarded the paving bid to D&L Paving Contractors of Nutley for $111,186. The Borough (continued on page 17)