A letter was sent to the police and fire chiefs as well as school officials outlining concerns the parents have about the safety issues facing the district. Knapp said they heard back from Police Chief Michael Grattan and Fire Chief Jeff Lavender but had been unable to have conversations with school administrators. Village of Holley Mayor Lewis Passarell urged the board to consider having a police officer in the district on a full time basis. He informed the board that grant funds were available that would allow the district to place a police officer in the school system in a grant funded position. While the grant has not been applied for yet, it is an option Passarell urged district officials and board members to investigate.
Prevention is a very important component in stemming the violence.
Grattan said the police department is concerned not only with the number of calls they are receiving, but with the seriousness of the types of calls they are responding to within the schools. If the school was successful in obtaining a grant, the salary would be covered for a three-year period with the school agreeing to pick it up for the fourth year. Grattan indicated that Officer Sevor, the department's D.A.R.E. officer, would be the logical choice as the full-time officer for the district. Board member John Penna agreed that while the district needed to address the safety issues confronting the schools, the board would have to look into various ways of addressing the issue. Holley Teacher's Association President Anne Smith said that safety should be of the utmost importance to everyone in the room.