Mike Wolanin | The Republic A view of the sign in front of Hauser Jr./Sr. High School in Hope, Ind.. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023.
HOPE – For the first time, Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corp. will have a school resource officer for the entire year.
The Bartholomew County commissioners have agreed to a two-year memorandum of understanding with Flat Rock-Hawcreek, allowing deputy Jessica Pendleton to be permanently assigned as a school resource officer to Hope Elementary and Hauser Jr.-Sr. High schools.
Since January 2019, Pendleton worked in both schools while classes were in session, and the Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools would reimburse the county for the time she worked as a resource officer.
But during June and July while classes are not in session, the 37-year-old Pendleton would be assigned to regular enforcement duties within the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Office.
While the commissioners unanimously agreed the Flat Rock-Hawcreek schools would be Pendleton’s permanent, year-round assignment, Commissioner Larry Kleinhenz asked that a clause be removed that calls for an automatic two-year renewal when the agreement expires.
“We kind of thought about different school boards and different commissioners in the future, and felt they should look at the agreement every two years,” Kleinhenz said.
For more on this story, see Thursday’s Republic.
