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THREE RIVERS SCHOOL BOARD Levy would fund armed officers in Three Rivers schools Comment By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 18, 2016 at 12:13 PM Updated Feb 18, 2016 at 4:34 PM By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 18, 2016 at 12:13 PM Updated Feb 18, 2016 at 4:34 PM » Social News The Three Rivers School Board decided Tuesday to send a property tax proposal to voters. If approved, the levy would raise about $200,000 to pay for on-campus security at schools throughout the district. Meeting at Fort Vannoy Elementary School, the board agreed unanimously to send the measure to the May 17 primary ballot. The money would pay for six retired police officers to be hired and deputized for service at local schools. However, Superintendent Dave Holmes told board members this could be a difficult move — Josephine County voters have rejected four straight public safety levies since 2012. "I'm aware of the difficulties, I know this county has had trouble with passing public safety levies," Holmes said. "If the electorate says no, the electorate says no. But at least we've tried." If approved, the levy would cost homeowners about 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value. Because of voter-approved property tax limits, assessed values are generally about 15 percent less than market values, although every property is unique. The six uniformed and armed officers would spend time at each of the district's schools in a "sky marshal" manner, where an officer would spend an hour or two at one school and then move on to another. Holmes said he and the committee decided on six officers based on a recommendation by Sheriff Dave Daniel. Only Holmes, one other district administrator and the sheriff's office would know where each officer would be at any given time. Daniel was at the meeting, along with one of his deputies, to answer questions, but few were asked. Board member Ron Lengwin asked whether the $200,000 would cover equipment costs for the officers, to which Holmes said yes. The budget also would cover uniforms, weapons, mileage and roughly $25 an hour in pay for each officer, he said. The officers would be hired directly through the sheriff's office and be under its oversight. Lengwin also asked whether the officers would be provided radios, to which Daniel said, "Yes, (they would have) direct contact with our dispatch." Holmes and 25 community members who make up a safety committee for the district have been working on the idea for several months. Holmes said he selected the members from a wide variety of political and other perspectives. The panel's sense of purpose was heightened after the Oct. 1 mass shooting at Umpqua Community College in Roseburg. Committee member Jack Dwyer, of the Illinois Valley, told the board he is in favor of having armed officers at schools. "I would oppose something like this if it was not thought out," he said. "This wouldn't be armed teachers or $10-an-hour armed security guards. (Holmes) picked the very safest level of security, with these guys who have made a career out of using good judgment." An information sheet about the proposed levy is available online at the Three Rivers website, threerivers.k12.or.us By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Ruth Longoria Kingsland Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Feb. 18, 2016 at 12:13 PM Updated Feb 18, 2016 at 4:34 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. 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