NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Sheriff’s office will supply a prevention resource officer for next school year at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center following the approval of the Hancock County Commission on Thursday.

The commission approved an agreement with the Hancock County Board of Education with the sheriff’s office providing a PRO in the county’s schools located in New Cumberland and north, including Allison Elementary in Chester, New Manchester Elementary in New Manchester, Oak Glen middle and high schools, and now the career center.

According to the agreement, the PRO’s duties include performing law enforcement functions within the school setting; identifying and prevention delinquent behavior; fostering a better understanding of the law enforcement function; developing a better appreciation of citizen’s rights, obligations and responsibilities; provide information on crime prevention; assistant and support crime victims identified at school; promote positive relations between the students, staff, and officers; enhance knowledge of the concepts and structures of law; and familiarize with confidentiality requirements.

Also as part of the agreement, the PRO will be required to be on duty during school hours, but is not required to attend extracurricular activities or leave his or her jurisdiction.

At the March 26 school board meeting, the board approved the motion as it addressed the issue of school security, taking into consideration recent events of threats and mass shootings throughout the nation.

According to Commissioner Joe Barnabei, the school district will cover the bulk of the costs for the PROs.

“This particular agreement, this would be a new spot at the career center, and the Hancock County Board of Education has agreed to assume pretty much the total liability for that,” Barnabei said. “So this is going to come at a minimum cost for the county.”

Barnabei also thanked Superintendent Tim Woodward, who was in attendance for Thursday’s meeting, for his insight into the situation.

The agreement will go into effect July 1.

Along with the hiring of the PROs, the commission approved the request from the sheriff’s office to hire a probationary deputy in order to backfill the new position.

Meanwhile, the commission approved the grant agreement with the West Virginia Commission on Drunk Driving, through the West Virginia State Police.

As part of the agreement, officers participating in the program will be required to fill out an Enforcement Activity Data Report at the end of each patrol and forward the form to their agency’s project director, who will then check the form for accuracy and forward it to the Commission on Drunk Driving Prevention on a weekly basis. Officers also will be required, as part of the grant, to attend DMV administrative hearings as well as provide testimony.

(Rappach can be contacted at srappach@reviewonline.com)