BOSTON — State legislators are considering the value of school resource officers and whether to create a grant fund to support their training.

Currently being considered by the Joint Committee on Education is “An Act to Create a School Resource Officer Grant Program and Fund.” State Rep. Steve Xiarhos, R-Barnstable, a co-sponsor for the bill (S.419), said he knows firsthand how important SROs are in building trust with the communities they serve and helping ensure safety.

“I was an SRO. I spent 40 years with the Yarmouth Police Department, and I spent seven years as the SRO, and was the first one on Cape Cod in 1987. I know firsthand how important it is,” Xiarhos said. “It’s something every school should have.”

Xiarhos is also sponsoring “An Act Relative to School Security” that requires police departments to develop policies and train students and school staff members on what to do in active shooter scenarios, and that any city or town that accepts the provisions of Section 98B will have as SRO present within each school during instruction hours.

Xiarhos said SROs serve as a law enforcement presence in schools, act as role models for students, help ensure safety, prevent truancy and violence, and enforce school rules and codes of student conduct.

“They’re not there to be just security or arrest kids,” he said. “The officer is there to do a little bit of everything.”

‘It’s worth every penny’

Deerfield Police Chief John Paciorek Jr. started the Deerfield SRO program in 2015 to serve the 2,200 students across the town’s five schools.

“I’ve never viewed the position of SRO as an enforcer. That position, or individual, is a relationship builder, engagement specialist, role model, communicator and merely one cog in the wheel of a greater educational system that has led the country,” Paciorek wrote in an email. “There is an old saying — it takes a community to raise a child, not just great parents.”

Orange Police Chief James Sullivan said Orange has had an SRO since he started at the department in 2004, and the role has become an asset to the community. School Resource Officer Chad Softic has had the time to foster relationships with students, families, and school administrators and staff, allowing him to mitigate bullying situations and mental health issues. Softic also coaches basketball, allowing him to build an even stronger relationship with the community.

“It’s an incredibly important role and I couldn’t possibly imagine not having him there,” Sullivan said of Softic. “It’s difficult to explain the benefits of having an SRO because he does so much.”

Becoming a school resource officer in Massachusetts requires certified police officers, as designated by the Massachusetts Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission, to complete a 40-hour SRO training course. Additionally, police departments and school districts must sign memorandums of understanding that outline the expectations for the officer’s role in the school.

The basic SRO course offered by the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) costs $500 for NASRO members and $550 for non-members. NASRO also offers advanced courses, adolescent mental health courses, school security training and other classes for added fees.

Paciorek said that in the 10 years that Sgt. Brian Ravish has served as an SRO, he has attended both the basic and advanced NASRO course, as well as eight additional trainings on juvenile mental health and best practices.

Xiarhos said trainings, supplies and salaries for SROs can be expensive, but protecting schools, students and staff is “priceless.”

“I know it costs money, but what is the cost of a child’s life, a teacher’s life and preventing something bad from happening?” Xiarhos said. “It’s the best use of taxpayer funding. … It’s worth every penny.”

The Ralph C. Mahar Regional School District pays Softic a salary for the hours he spends in the schools, Sullivan said. Despite the financial challenges Orange has faced, maintaining the SRO position is a priority.

“Every year they find the money because when he’s there, he’s invaluable to them,” Sullivan said.

Paciorek said he is grateful the SRO position in Deerfield is able to be fully funded and that he would support any legislation that could help departments build SRO programs.

“I support any legislation that may positively impact our ability to guide students and young adults away from the criminal justice system, while establishing and maintaining a rapport with them,” Paciorek wrote in an email. “I was truly saddened to hear about the budgetary concerns at Turners Falls that led to the non-renewal of the SRO program. The value and impact of these officers is greater than any monetary amount.”

Sullivan was referring to Gill-Montague Regional School District’s SRO Dan Miner, who was moved to full-time patrol duty at the Montague Police Department in February amid staffing issues at the department. The Gill-Montague School Committee cut the SRO position from the fiscal year 2026 budget, as well as the curriculum director and a special education instructional assistant.

Sullivan added that while Softic began working in the schools before the state created any SRO trainings or regulations, Softic has attended many trainings and conferences since then, and any support the state could offer would be a huge help.

“The biggest thing is money. Anything the state could give us in Orange would be huge,” Sullivan said.

Certification and training

“An Act to Create a School Resource Officer Grant Program and Fund” does not allocate a specific dollar amount for SROs. The bill, if passed, would create the special fund that can receive donations and future appropriations.

“The bill is designed as a matching grant program, which means the state would cover some of the cost, and the school or town pays the rest. It is a particularly helpful approach for smaller communities that struggle financially,” said Meaghan Sheeran, communications director for state Sen. Patrick O’Connor, co-sponsor of the bill. “While also funding the officers themselves, this bill allows up to 5% of the grant to be put toward training and certification. The goal here is to make sure that SROs are not only present in school districts but also able to support students, promote a safer school environment, and become a well-trusted resource for students and families.”

According to the Massachusetts POST Commission’s officer status list, there are 612 SROs in the state, and only three certified in Franklin County: Jason Kratz and Matt Llewelyn of the Greenfield Police Department and Dan Miner of the Montague Police Department. However, neither department currently has an officer assigned to work in a school. All three remain with their respective police departments as patrol officers.

Despite only a few being certified with the POST Commission, there are other officers working as SROs across Franklin County. Alia Spring, a spokesperson for the POST Commission, said it only began certifying officers in 2023, and many departments across the state are catching up with the paperwork.

Paciorek said that when Deerfield created its SRO program, there were no mandates, regulations or certifications in the state for such roles. Since the creation of the SRO certification, he has tried to get Ravish into the Municipal Police Training Committee’s (MPTC) SRO training, but due to limited space and a few canceled trainings, it hasn’t happened yet.

“With the formation of the POST Commission, chiefs and training officers all across the commonwealth are playing catch-up every time POST issues a new directive or [Code of Massachusetts Regulations]. It is going to take a few more years before all the minor tweaks and bugs are worked out,” Paciorek wrote in an email. “These are the minor growing pains when an entire system changes and you have two organizations, POST and MPTC, not working in concert with each other. Chiefs and training officers struggle to comply with the ever-changing goal post.”

He added that while he may not be listed as certified, Ravish is trained as an SRO, and he and the others in the county are doing important work in their communities.

“The successes of school resource officers may be examined by four life-changing individuals in Franklin County,” Paciorek wrote in an email, referencing Ravish, Softic, Miner and SRO Mike Sevene at Franklin County Technical School. “Those four individuals have had more positive impact on Franklin County than all of our police officers combined.”

Xiarhos said he has not heard any indication of where the Joint Committee on Education is in its review of the bill. Still, the process of passing legislation is slow, and he remains hopeful.

“I’ve not heard anything yet, but we’re hopeful,” Xiarhos said. “It’s something I really believe in.”

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.