The School Resource Officer program is coming to East Allen County Schools.

At Tuesday's board meeting, members plan to discuss the program, which will station a New Haven Police officer at New Haven High School permanently.

“I've been wanting an SRO in East Allen County Schools for many years,” said Jeff Studebaker, district school safety manager, but the district didn't follow suit years before when other Allen County schools took on the program. “I don't think people (in EACS) really saw the need for it.”

But an increase in school safety awareness, plus a bump in police presence at New Haven High School, prompted the district to use the SRO program.

“It's one of the most beneficial things that we can do for our students and schools,” Superintendent Karyle Green said.

The district will use longtime New Haven Det. Henry McKinnon as the SRO at New Haven High School, Studebaker said, but he will respond to needs at New Haven Middle and the three feeder schools in New Haven, as well. Studebaker said McKinnon can also be called out to the rest of the district if needed.

Even though an Allen County Reserve officer is already at Prince Chapman Academy, Studebaker said the SRO program in New Haven will allow the officer to target that area and develop a rapport with the students.

Studebaker said McKinnon is ideal for this position, especially because of his experience with the now-defunct DARE program.

As SRO, McKinnon would address any disturbances at the school, advise the district on law-enforcement issues, act as a prevention tool, and work with students in an educational role.

The SRO program will be funded by a safe-haven grant. Studebaker said the district has received the grant in the past, but used the money for other materials such as radios and cameras.

This year, the $20,000 grant is being put toward the program as well as funds from the New Haven Police Department and EACS - despite recent budget cuts.

“With any cuts or new programs, you have to look at the benefits that it will give students,” Green said of the $27,000 put toward the program this year. “I just believe that the SRO program is an extremely valuable program.”