Dear Boone County Council members,

In response to the recent school shooting in our neighboring county at a Noblesville middle school, we feel compelled to communicate to all members of the Boone County Council the importance of implementing school resource officers in our own school system, Zionsville Community Schools. It is our understanding that Sheriff Nielsen will be seeking approval from you for the additional funding required to hire school resource officers for those Zionsville Community Schools outside of the Zionsville corporate limits for the 2018-2019 school year. These schools include Boone Meadow Elementary, Stonegate Elementary, and Zionsville West Middle School. All remaining schools within the ZCS boundary will be provided a school resource officer by the Zionsville Police Department upon approval of such by the Zionsville Town Council. Because we feel that the impact of having a school resource officer in our schools would greatly increase the safety of our children, it is important that Sheriff Nielsen's implementation of such becomes a reality by the start of school August 8th, 2018.

From the National Association of School Resource Officers website: In a two-year study of an School Resource Officer program in a regional municipality, researchers at Carleton University concluded that for every dollar invested in the program, a minimum of $11.13 of social and economic value was created (2018). The report lists numerous benefits of the program, including:

• Prevention or minimization of property damage in the school and surrounding areas.
• Prevention of student injuries and even death due to violence, drug overdoses, etc.
• Reduction of the need for schools to call 911.
• Reduction of the likelihood that a student will get a criminal record.
• Increase of the likelihood that students (particularly those with mental health issues) will get the help they need from the social service and health care systems.
• Increase in feelings of safety among students and staff.

Please consider the safety of our children a top priority and approve the additional funding requested by Sheriff Nielsen that is required to hire school resource officers for Boone Meadow Elementary, Stonegate Elementary, & Zionsville West Middle School for the 2018-2019 school year. We also ask that you approve funds required for School Resource Officers for these three schools as a budgeted item in subsequent years. Thank you for your time-we greatly appreciate all that you do as leaders in our community and your commitment to Boone County, the place we have chosen to call home and raise our children.

Sincerely,

Concerned Residents & Parents of Boone County