NL School Board Meets in Special Session

The New London School Board met in special session on Aug. 5, 2024 with Kyle Helmerson absent and Becky Hays joining by phone.

The first order of business was to consider the board’s options for a School Resource Officer. Superintendent Wahls reviewed the SRO position history.

Problems to be solved were payment issues and signing a 28E agreement. The agreement was changed to reflect the adjustment to full-time and the pay differential.

The assistant county attorney red flagged some areas that concerned him. There is currently no 28E agreement signed due to financial issues emanating from the sheriff’s office.

The school’s attorney was asked for a recommendation concerning this issue. She counseled that it was the sheriff’s department’s issue and for the school not to get involved. She also encouraged them to ask for a different SRO due to unresolved issues with the current one. If a new SRO is assigned to New London, it was requested that they be part-time until they are comfortable with learning the responsibilities of the job.

The County Sheriff has been pleased with the program and wants to continue it. Areas that are cause for concern include the SRO changed to the school’s insurance instead of the county’s.

Mike McBeth made a motion that the school board follow the school attorney’s advice to continue with a different officer. It passed 4-0.

The discussion then turned to the issue of part-time or full-time money. With too many unresolved issues, they tabled the matter until the regular meeting on Aug. 19, when all the members should be present.

Personnel issues were next.

The meeting was adjourned. The next regular meeting of the New London School Board will be Aug. 19, 2024 at 6 p.m. at the north campus boardroom.