December 12, 2025
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I am writing to inform you of an important change regarding school safety staffing at the Middle-High School building.
The Village of Herkimer formally notified the District that “due to insufficient resources and pursuant to a motion passed by the Village Board of Trustees” it is terminating the School Resource Officer (SRO) agreement effective December 19, 2025. This means that after this date, the Village will no longer provide an SRO at the Middle-High School. Since 2017, the SRO program has served as a leading model for school safety and security in the county. We are deeply appreciative of the positive impact it has had on our school community and are grateful to all the SRO’s who have served in this capacity. The collaboration and attention to school safety are irreplaceable.
The Village has consistently stated in public meetings, talk shows and social media that the Herkimer County Sheriff’s Department has the personnel to staff a School Patrol Officer (SPO) for the district. I want to be clear that this is not, and has not, been the case since last spring and the beginning of this school year. The district has remained in close contact with the Sheriff’s Department throughout the course of the Village’s discussions on the SRO program. Sheriff Scott Scherer has been fantastic at staying in communication with the district every step of the way. At this time, the Sheriff’s Department is unable to provide a timeline for when an officer may be assigned.
Because the Village has ended the agreement and the Sheriff’s Department is currently unable to staff an SPO, the District has had no choice but to secure coverage through an outside security company, Allied Universal, to ensure the Middle-High School remains appropriately staffed and protected. At this time, Herkimer will be the only district in the tri-county area required to enter into this type of arrangement. While this is not our ideal path forward, maintaining the safety for our students and staff remains our highest priority and the Middle-High School will not go without an armed guard.
Sheriff Scott Scherer has assured the District that he will continue efforts to identify and assign a qualified officer as soon as one becomes available as well as update the district as progress is made.
As the Superintendent of schools, to say this is a disappointment is an understatement. The decision by the Village, while believing the Sheriff’s Department was readily staffed and able to fill this important position, has left the Middle-High School with no other viable option.
We will continue to keep families informed as additional information becomes available. Thank you for your understanding and continued support as we work to ensure a safe and secure learning environment for all students.
Sincerely,
Kathleen A. Carney
Superintendent of Schools