ROCHELLE — The Rochelle City Council, the Rochelle Township High School District Board of Education and the Rochelle Elementary School District Board of Education recently approved agreements for the continuation of school resource officer programs through July 1, 2027.

Rochelle Police Department Officers Jim Jakymiw (RTHS) and Sydney Jackson (elementary district) will continue as SROs within Rochelle schools. The SRO program began in 2018.

The cost for the SRO program is $200,000 total annually for both officers' salaries and benefits. Schools will pay a prorated share of salary, benefits and training. The elementary school will pay $3,750 or 33% per month for SRO services. The RTHS district will pay $7,500 or 66% per month for salary and benefits. Those numbers will increase on each Jan. 1 by agreed upon numbers with RPD's union.

“The extension was just a no brainer,” RPD Chief and former RTHS SRO Pete Pavia said. “Our program here has been fantastic. Our SROs do a fantastic job. I know our program is very successful. The biggest part of it is just having the officers in the school. It's just having that presence there. The kids learn that they can come and talk to us anytime they want. It kind of normalizes the badge. It's just a great program.”

Jason Harper, superintendent of both Rochelle school districts, said he’s looking forward to continuing the partnership with RPD and the city. He believes the districts have been fortunate to work with both entities to help keep students and staff safe in school. 

Rochelle Schools Assistant Superintendent Tony Doyle said that along with safety responsibilities, SROs also serve as mentors and role models, helping students to develop life skills, resolve conflicts and to make positive choices “that contribute to their overall well-being and success in school.”

RTHS Principal Chris Lewis said having an SRO in the building provides a sense of safety and comfort for students and staff, and that SROs have been committed to helping keep the building safe while building a positive culture between students. Rochelle Middle School Principal Jordan Young has seen benefits of the SRO program as well. 

“A well-implemented SRO program not only enhances campus safety but also fosters positive relationships between students and law enforcement which helps create an environment where education thrives,” Young said. “When students and staff feel safe, they can focus on teaching and learning.”

Pavia served as RTHS’s SRO for three years and was the first SRO from RPD after the Ogle County Sheriff’s Office previously had an SRO in the building. He called having an officer in the school buildings each day “invaluable” and praised the SROs for their work. 

“It does take someone special to go into the schools,” Pavia said. “When we had the opening for the elementary school district, I put it out to everyone. There were very few officers who were interested. It takes someone special who can work with kids and wants that opportunity. We have fantastic SROs. I see it at events like National Night Out with how they interact. Kids love these officers in the schools. I can't say enough good things about it. They're where they need to be.”

Pavia said RPD is looking at possibly applying for grants to get an additional SRO for the elementary school district in the future. Currently one SRO covers four schools in that district. City Manager Jeff Fiegenschuh said he would be in full support of expansion if there was a viable way to fund it. 

Fiegenschuh said having the relationships with the school districts that have resulted in the SRO program “means a lot.”

“I think it's important to normalize the badge in schools and that our police officers are there to protect students and staff,” Fiegenschuh siad. “We're all funded by the same taxpayers and ratepayers. Whatever we can do to work together and provide a better service and quality of life for our residents, I think we need to consider. That includes the SRO program. One reason it's so easy to continue a program like this is when you have really good officers in the schools and a good chief of police to advocate for it and get it done and implemented. I'm super proud of the program and I look forward to a long-term relationship with the schools. This program was set up to last long into the future for our community.”