BARTLESVILLE, Okla. — Leaders in Bartlesville spent all summer gearing up for the school year, including an increased investment in safety and security.
Folks in Bartlesville are ready for school to start.
“Both my wife and I graduated from here, our kids went here,” longtime Bartlesville resident Allen Bretz said, “We know some of the administrators and teachers, and they just do a fantastic job.”
Amid the excitement comes some anxiety for parents. Safety and security are always a focus for districts across Green Country, including Superintendent Chuck McCauley’s district.
“This’ll be our second year that we’ve had a full-time SRO at all nine of our sites,” McCauley said.
The district and the police department didn’t stop there. They’ve partnered to increase efforts in respect to school resource officers.
“We want your children to be able to go to school and feel like they’re in a safe environment where they can receive a good education,” Lt. Chris Mims, who oversees the SROs said.
- Previous coverage >>> PROTECTING STUDENTS: A big donation keeps Bartlesville students safe
He told 2 News they take the partnership seriously. In fact, this summer, they sent each SRO to behavioral threat assessment training and site assessment training. Those training sessions help officers deal with mental health crises and secure the school building itself.
The police department is also expanding its presence in the district. An additional officer will be present at the high school.
Bretz has a long line of history within BPS. He’s glad to know safety is the priority.
“Well, I think it’s a good idea. We generally have a really good school system here, not many problems,” Bretz said, “But you never know. So it’s good to see it. Kind of glad they’re doing it.”
An SRO’s first duty is to protect. Mims said that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
“SROs act as mentors. Sometimes, they wear several different hats. Counselors … we’re also educators. They are considered part of the school staff,” Mims said.
School starts in Bartlesville on Aug. 15
Stay in touch with us anytime, anywhere --
- Download our free app for Apple, Android and Kindle devices.
- Sign up for daily newsletters emailed to you
- Like us on Facebook
- Follow us on Instagram
- SUBSCRIBE on YouTube
