School safety was a topic of discussion during the Warsaw Community Schools (WCS) board work session on April 9. Tracy Horrell, assistant superintendent of secondary, highlighted some of the work WCS accomplishes in regards to school safety.
Because the safety of students and staff is a top priority, WCS has partnered with the Warsaw Police Department to maintain four School Resource Officers (SROs): Roy Navarro, Brandon Zartman, Lewis Fuller and Phil Reed. This year, WCS added an additional partnership with the Sheriff's Department to add Joel Popenfoose to the WCS SRO team. Having SROs on-site offers proximity during emergencies, and they are crucial safe-zones for students. These highly visible SROs help to deter misconduct within the school buildings and complete a safety audit each year to ensure that WCS buildings, parking lots and grounds are safe and secure at all times.
The five SROs are highly trained individuals who have unique skills and qualifications to handle emergency situations. The SROs also act as safe zones for students who need positive role models and mentorship. In addition, SROs act as liaisons between the police department, school personnel and parents, helping to develop and implement comprehensive plans and strategies in the best interest of students and the school.
The SROs' primary duty is to ensure that WCS is safe and secure, and they supplement their duties by conducting roving patrols and training other school personnel. The SROs undergo yearly week-long SRO safety training which includes training on threat assessment teams and tools, social media investigations, school law updates, trauma-informed care and cultural competency, etc.
When asked about some of their responsibilities, Roy Navarro shared that in addition to DARE, he is stationed at Edgewood Middle School and helps to meet and greet students every day, so that he can build relationships with them in a positive way. He is also regularly performing door checks, and working with school administrators to address the needs of the school. In the evenings, he coaches for cross country and wrestling and is visible at after-school events such as dances and sporting events.
Brandon Zartman, a high school SRO, has over 20 years of experience. When asked about his roles and responsibilities, he shared that he is passionate about helping students. He acts as a mentor to students and similar to Officer Navarro, he starts his day greeting and talking with students. Officer Zartman is also a handler of a drug-sniffing dog named Bubka, who has been instrumental in helping students cope with stress and anxiety. Bubka is approachable, and students come to the SRO's office to pet him, which Officer Zartman says was an unexpected response to having Bubka at school.
Joel Popenfoose, WCS’s elementary SRO, shared a heartwarming insight into the daily life of serving the elementary schools, “Six months in, and I'm deeply immersed in building relationships with our students. Every day and every school is unique, but what remains constant is my morning greeting, whether at bus duty or parent drop-off, ensuring I'm one of the first friendly faces our kids see. My days are filled with diverse interactions, from running around during gym class to coloring with first graders. It's about spending time with the kids, sharing knowledge, and learning from the experiences of my colleagues. Each school has its own culture, and I cherish every moment spent within these vibrant communities.”
WCS recognizes the importance of SROs in ensuring the safety of its students and staff and acknowledges the unique roles and responsibilities of each SRO and appreciates their 24-7 commitment to keeping the school safe and secure, beyond their day-to-day responsibilities. In addition, WCS encourages 6th grade families to save the date for this year’s DARE graduation which will be a combined graduation ceremony for all eight elementary schools. This year’s DARE graduation will be on May 7 at 6:30pm in the Tiger Den.
