This is a common question among parents. 

While there have been some concerns within our community, having a Trooper in the school is not mandatory. Any time there is a Trooper in an area, that police officer’s presence alone will usually deter behavior not normally accepted by the community.

The Fonda-Fultonville Central School system and the New York State Police are working together to confront the problems our students face. By addressing these issues proactively, we become increasingly effective.

Throughout the United States each year, more than 200,000 violent crimes occur on school property. Each year, 150,000 students stay home because they are tired of violence and afraid they might be verbally or physically bullied. Every day in the U.S., 60 teachers are assaulted and 160 are threatened. It is estimated that between 100,000 and 135,000 guns are brought to school each day. During the 1992-93 school year, 91percent of urban schools, 81 percent of suburban schools, and 69 percent of rural schools identified student vs. student assaults as the leading school-related violent act. 

Although this is a nationwide problem, more and more of these problems have been reaching our community schools. An SRO, if used correctly, should be the first line of defense against gangs, drugs, alcohol and school violence. The United States Supreme Court recognized the effects that gangs and drugs have in our schools and have ruled that "gangs and drugs" are inherently dangerous. They have also stated that every student in the United States has the right to feel safe while attending school.

Through prevention programs, it is hoped that in the surrounding Fonda-Fultonville area, we can reverse the trends that are hurting our youth and education. The school system understands and believes that we hold the future of youth in our hands.

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