News & Notes - 7/26/23 Woodward Talk

Berkley public safety, school district partner for resource officer
BERKLEY — The city of Berkley and the Berkley School District announced that they will be launching a school resource officer program.

According to a press release, the program will, for the first time, put a Berkley public safety officer in the schools full time. The school resource officer will assist with school safety and security; provide educational programming; build and cultivate partnerships with students, staff and parents; and investigate public safety matters related to the Berkley School District.

The school resource officer also will assist the Huntington Woods and Oak Park public safety departments at Berkley School District buildings in those cities, respectively. The school resource officer selected by the department is Sgt. Dave Arney.

“The Berkley Department of Public Safety is pleased to expand our partnership with Berkley School District through this Public Safety-School Resource Program,” Public Safety Chief Matt Koehn said in a prepared statement. “We have long had officers visit schools within the district to build relationships with students, parents and staff as well as assist with safety and security matters. This program enables us to enhance these efforts by having a designated officer in the schools full time, which we believe will increase safety, strengthen relationships and serve as an important recruiting tool.”

The Berkley School District will cover 75% of the school resource officer’s salary, which will be $67,405.50. Berkley School District Superintendent Scott Francis also released a prepared statement on the program.

“Student and staff safety is our No. 1 priority, and partnering with Berkley Public Safety and the City of Berkley to add a school resource officer will only make our schools safer,” Francis stated. “Sgt. Arney has worked closely with the Berkley School District for several years as our school liaison officer and he is a familiar face to many of our students and school community. We welcome Sgt. Arney in his new role for the 2023-24 school year.”

 

Cycle track project to continue into November
PLEASANT RIDGE — At the end of June, construction began on the city’s Woodward Avenue streetscape and cycle track project. It’s expected to be completed by mid-November.

According to a news release, on-street parking temporarily will not be available during the project. Public parking will be available in the public parking lots at Wellesley Drive and Fairwood Boulevard, and on side streets where allowed. One or two lanes will be closed on Woodward and Main Street between Sylvan Avenue and Interstate 696 during the length of the project. The primary contractor for the project is Merlo Construction.

The news release also said that 11 honey locust trees have to be removed, but most of the existing trees will be preserved and 24 new trees will be planted, resulting in a net increase of 13 trees.

For more information on the project, visit cityofpleasantridge.org/woodward.

 

Remember to vote
BERKLEY/HUNTINGTON WOODS — Residents of the Berkley School District have an $88 million bond proposal on the Aug. 8 ballot. For the Talk’s coverage of the bond, visit candgnews.com/news/elections.