Anticipated: Safe Schools Resource Officer

Position Summary: The primary function of the Safe Schools Resource Officer for the Nutley Public Schools is to ensure that an environment exists in our public schools that is both safe and conducive for learning and teaching. It will be the responsibility of each Safe Schools Resource Officer to assist in furthering the educational process by exercising his/her authority to preserve the public peace, prevent crime, protect students and faculty, detain offenders, and protect the rights and property in, upon, and in the immediate vicinity of school property. The Safe Schools Resource Officer will serve as educator, emergency manager, and informal counselor. The Safe Schools Resource Officer does not have the power to arrest individuals for security breaches. Qualifications: Must be a retired law enforcement officer, who previously served as a fully-trained, full-time police officer in New Jersey. The officer must also be physically capable of performing the functions of the position, and possess evidence of prior certification as a law enforcement officer; a New Jersey Police Training Commission basic police officer certification or New Jersey State Police Academy certification. Must pass a pre-employment physical examination. Qualification certification or a State of New Jersey permit to carry a concealed handgun as provided by Retired Law Enforcement Permit To Carry a Handgun Law N.J.S.A. 2C:39-6 is required in order to wear and carry firearms on all properties owned or leased by the Nutley Public Schools. Experience working with youth and adults in an organized setting with school safety, substance abuse, and/mental health experience preferred. Ideally, candidate will also be familiar with the Nutley community and the schools themselves. For appointment in the Nutley Public Schools, the Safe Schools Resource Officer must obtain clearance for employment from the State Education Department prior to employment based upon a fingerprint and criminal history background check. Safe School Resource Officer training will be required by the Board of Education/Designee to ensure that the officer is integrated into the unique setting of the school community and is properly trained to function not only as a safety expert and law enforcer, but also as a liaison to community resources, educators, and counselors. Position Objectives: Each Safe Schools Resource Officer shall serve as a role model for students, faculty, and the community in how to conduct themselves as law abiding citizens and practice respect for the law. Essential Duties : The Safe Schools Resource Officer will provide support to the instructional process with specific responsibilities for the safety and welfare of students and faculty while on school grounds including monitoring personnel and/or visitors, communicating information in response to inquiries, and enforcing the school and District rules and regulations pertaining to student academic behavior and drug prevention. Disciplinary authority remains with the Building and/or District administration. The Safe Schools Resource Officer will provide security for the school District students, staff, buildings and property through patrol of school building(s) and building perimeters, including parking lots, to prevent unauthorized visitors or property damage and to provide for general building security, in accordance with established security procedures. Responsibilities Shall establish a good working relationship with building administrator, coworkers, custodians and faculty. Ability to command respect and work with students and staff in a positive manner. ? Shall at all times act as a role model to students by demonstrating appropriate attitude, behavior, courtesy, and respect. Maintain effective working relationships with students, parents, school personnel, and the general public. He/she will familiarize him/herself with the facilities in order to execute his/her assigned duties in a professional and timely manner and be cognizant of the security related duties established by the building administrator. Patrols all halls of the building; check critical areas such as restrooms, outside of doors, etc. Perform periodic survey of the physical plant to ascertain weak areas of security, (i.e., fire hazards and points of possible entry), advise Administrators and District Safe Schools Resource Officer of findings, and make recommendations to correct potential problems. Communicates safety and security policies and enforcement procedures to students, staff and visitors for the purpose of ensuring their understanding of such information and the potential consequences of violation. Escorts students, school personnel and/or visitors for the purpose of providing direction, ensuring safety and providing site security. Monitors student behavior during and between assigned periods and at student events (e.g. lunch room, classrooms, detention, dances, home games, 'time outs,' etc.) for the purpose of ensuring student compliance with the pupil code of conduct and established guidelines, so as to maintain a safe and positive learning environment, and secure facility. Patrols school facilities (e.g. grounds, roads, buildings, adjacent areas, parking lots, etc.) for the purpose of providing visibility, maintaining security and deterring criminal activities. Participates in security inspections of school facilities; Informs counselors, parents, teachers and school administrators of student behavior problems May assist with student and staff risk assessments, Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying investigations ("HIB"), and discipline issues Refers observations and incidents (e.g. injuries, altercations, suspicious activities, inappropriate social behavior, violations of rules, etc.) for the purpose of communicating information to appropriate instructional and/or administrative personnel for follow-up action. Intervenes in potential conflicts for the purpose of minimizing disruptions of school activities and/or injury to involved parties. Responds to a variety of situations (accidents, injuries, vandalism, suspicious activities, alarms, etc.) for the purpose of taking the appropriate action to resolve immediate safety and/or security concerns. Investigates unusual incidents (e.g. unauthorized visitors, threats against students, possible violations of school policy, etc.) for the purpose of assisting law enforcement personnel, developing information necessary to determine appropriate action, and/or provide documentation for future reference. Refers incidents including personal injuries, altercations, suspicious activities, rule violations, etc. to appropriate site personnel and/or Township police for the purpose of ensuring follow-up in accordance with administrative, site security and student safety guidelines. Attempt to resolve less serious (non-criminal) acts of misconduct by students without arrests and/or resorting to the courts. The Safe Schools Resource Officer refers the offender[s] to the building administrator for disciplinary action. The Safe Schools Resource Officer may be required to testify before the Board of Education or a committee thereof for student discipline or HIB hearings and any subsequent appeals of said hearings. May assist in handling emergency disciplinary matters. Comes to the aid of administrators, faculty members, students and other safety officers whenever the need arises. Shall call for assistance from the building administrator, police and/or fire department as the situation warrants. ? Monitors fire drills, lock downs and other emergency procedure drills for the purpose of complying with established guidelines. Responds to inquiries from students and parents regarding school security issues for the purpose of providing information, direction and/or referral for addressing inquiry. Maintains a variety of files and records (e.g. schedules, incident reports, emergency drill records, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the availability of information for future reference and/or audit for compliance to established policies. Shall continue to upgrade his/her professional skills by attending workshops, seminars, staff meetings, etc., as scheduled by the District Safe Schools Resource Officer, Building, or District Administration. Participates in Faculty meetings, in-service training, and workshops for the purpose of conveying and/or gathering information required to perform job functions. Assists in special assignments as directed. Maintains the confidentiality of any information obtained while performing his/her job functions for the District, such as pupil information and school/district security protocols and will only communicate such information with the prior permission of the Superintendent/Principal or designee. All communications to law enforcement shall also be made to the Superintendent/Principal or Designee. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individual(s) assigned to this position. They are not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of this position. Evaluation of Performance: Performance of this position will be evaluated annually by the District Safe Schools Resource Officer with input from the Building Administration and/or Superintendent in accordance with the New Jersey Administrative Code and Board of Education policy for the Evaluation of Personnel. Supervisory Responsibilities: None Additional Responsibilities: Performs such other tasks and assumes such other responsibilities as the District Safe Schools Resource Officer and Superintendent may assign or delegate. Physical Demands: The physical demands described in this job description are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Must be able to exert up to 25 pounds of force occasionally, and/or an amount of force constantly to lift, carry, push, and pull or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Frequent sitting, bending, reaching, standing and walking, which may be required for long periods of time, and will involve climbing stairs. The Safe Schools Resource Officer must have a valid NJ Driver's License and may be required to drive from school to school during the day. Working Conditions and Environment Work is routinely performed in a typical interior/exterior school environment. It is expected that this person will work 40 hours per week and he/she may be assigned to multiple schools within the course of the day. #J-18808-Ljbffr Nutley Board of Education