The Wenatchee School Board unanimously approved an agreement between the school district and the City of Wenatchee last night to hire Police Officer Brian Miller as the new school resource officer for the Wenatchee School District.

Wenatchee School District will pay 75-percent of Miller’s approximately $80,000 salary, with the remaining amount coming from the City of Wenatchee, according to the agreement that was approved by the City Council Jan. 22.

The agreement takes effect Feb. 1 and Miller is scheduled to begin work with the district Feb. 2. His duties include providing “a program of law and education-related issues to the school community, including parents, on such topics as tobacco, alcohol, and other drug issues.” He’ll also act as a communication liaison with law enforcement agencies and serve as a general resource for district staff on issues related to alcohol and other drugs, violence prevention, gangs, safety, and security. The officer will not act as a school disciplinarian, though, according to the agreement.

The board delayed approval of this item at the last school board meeting on Jan. 13, because board member Laura Jaecks requested an amendment to the draft agreement to allow the district to provide supervision and direction to the officer.

Superintendent Brian Flones, Deputy Superintendent Jon DeJong, and Director of Risk Management and Safety Adam Bergstrom worked further on the agreement with city officials, and added a new component of quarterly meetings between the district and police department, according to the agreement approved by the City Council. Jaecks said she was thankful for the group’s time and efforts on the updated agreement.

“The school resource officer is still employed by the Wenatchee Police Department, so they will be the direct supervisor,” Wenatchee High School Principal Bob Celebrezze said. The school resource officer will serve the entire school district, but will spend a majority of his time at WHS, Bergstrom said.

“I think that a school resource officer who’s a licensed police officer is going to know a lot about the law, and through relationship building, and understanding of how students can best make good decisions, it’s going to be a real benefit,” Celebrezze said. “I’m really optimistic about all the positives that can take place with a school resource officer.” This is the third high school Celebrezze has worked at with a school resource officer and has seen no downsides.

“He’s here to enrich the lives of students just as much as he is here to perform law enforcement duties,” Bergstrom said.

The Safety and Security Officers currently working at WHS, Don Durden and Janine Owyen, will work hand-in-hand with Miller. Bergstrom said the WHS officers will develop situations until information causes them to believe illegal activity has occurred, in which case the situation would be turned over to Miller.

Talks are still underway to determine where Miller’s office will be at WHS, but the old ASB Office is definitely an option, Celebrezze said.