The Knox Community School Corporation will have a new school resource officer next school year, but it may also have fewer teaching positions.
The school board Tuesday authorized Superintendent Dr. William Reichhart to begin the reduction in force process, depending on the school corporation’s needs. “As we look at staffing, as we look at scheduling, as we look at enrollment, this motion gives me the authority as superintendent to make a determination by May 14 whether or not we will be reducing any teachers at this point in time,” Reichhart told board members.
A list would then go back to the school board for final approval. Reichhart anticipates the number of reductions, if any, to be few.
Meanwhile, the school board hired Steve VanDerAa as school resource officer for the 2021-2022 school year. “Steve is a former state police officer that has been retired,” Reichhart explained. “He’s taught at Ancilla for a number of years in their school safety department and classes over there.”
Reichhart said VanDerAa will replace Travis Schieber while he’s deployed with the Army Reserves. “He goes overseas starting in August, and he’ll be gone, probably, for up to a year,” Reichhart said. “And so, we hate to lose him, but at the same time, he’ll be serving our country.”
VanDerAa will be paid $21 an hour to serve as school resource officer. Reichhart noted that it’ll actually save the school corporation some money, since Schieber makes $23 an hour and also takes benefits.
