Port Byron Central School District Superintendent Neil O'Brien said two weeks ago that it was responsible in asking community taxpayers to vote on a proposition to bring on a school resource officer that was completely separate from the 2008-09 operating budget.

O'Brien said during a budget hearing May 7 at the Dana L. West High School library that it was important to give the community a choice.

If taxpayers wanted to bring in an SRO, an experienced police officer who provides law enforcement, disciplinary and student counseling services for the school community, from the Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, all they would have to do is vote yes to an expenditure of $59,180 on the ballot put before them this past Tuesday. And if they didn't want it, they could vote no.

The board of education and O'Brien's instincts to put the SRO in a separate proposition proved right; voters overwhelmingly defeated the SRO, 365-237.

“I think when you have these issues it's important to give the voters a chance,” O'Brien said Thursday. “The board of education didn't want to go into the regular budget and eliminate a teacher or athletic team if it isn't something the community wants.

“The voters were given a chance to weigh in, and they didn't want it,” he said.

O'Brien attributed the defeat to bad timing. Between the stagnant economy and the district's upcoming $4.9 million capital project, people believed “it was not the time to put an SRO in our education system,” he said.

Just because the district doesn't have a daytime police officer doesn't mean the school community isn't safe, O'Brien said. A school safety plan is in place for emergencies and would be administered by administrators, faculty and staff.

“The people believe we are doing a good enough job with safety in the school and there is no need for an SRO to augment that,” he said.

School entrances will soon be equipped with electronic locks to ensure safety; this installation will be funded through the capital project, authorized by taxpayers in 2006 with work expected to begin later this year.

The 2008-09 operating budget of $18,093,561 passed Tuesday 335-271 as did propositions to purchase school buses and provide the Port Byron Library with monetary support, 335-271 and 351-252, respectively.

When it comes to the SRO, community members shouldn't expect the issue to be broached again anytime soon.

“It is my belief that when you put it up like this and the community speaks pretty loudly, you hold off,” O'Brien said. “It tends to make the voters angry if you put the same proposition up twice.”

Staff writer Alyssa Sunkin can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 239 or alyssa.sunkin@lee.net