In an era often defined by political polarization, local high school students proved that communities can still come together to discuss complex issues with empathy and respect. On Thursday evening, the Woodland High School Commons transformed into a forum for community dialogue as the AP Government class hosted its second Civic Power Hour.
Attendees—a mix of local students, staff, and community members—were greeted at the door by respectful student organizers and handed flyers outlining the night's mission: to provide an opportunity for community members to engage in civil dialogue around a topic meaningful to the community. This night’s focus? "Securing our Schools: School Resource Officer (SRO) and Safety Funding."
Guided by three student moderators, the event brought together a panel of four key local decision-makers: Woodland School Board President Tom Guthrie, Chief of Police Robert Gibbs, City Councilwoman Brittny Michaelson, and Woodland Public Schools Superintendent Asha Riley.
Defining the Role: More Than Enforcement
The first half of the event featured student-led questions aimed at defining exactly what an SRO brings to the school campus. The panelists agreed on the idea that the role is rooted heavily in prevention and community care.
When a community member asked if the district could simply hire a standard security guard instead of a sworn police officer, Superintendent Riley said she appreciated the current model of having a police officer, noting she deeply values having an expert on campus who is highly trained in both complex investigations and emergency responses. Chief Gibbs added that having an expert on-site significantly streamlines investigations when incidents do occur.
The Funding Puzzle: Who Pays?
While the benefits of the program were widely agreed upon, the core of the discussion centered on how to fund it moving forward. Currently, the City of Woodland funds the SRO position, but local leaders are looking to transition to a shared-cost model. "Shared funding creates shared investments," Councilwoman Michaelson stated. "It has been beneficial, and a shared model is a great discussion."
Chief Gibbs and Councilwoman Michaelson noted they appreciated that having the SRO continue to be funded by the police department allows for the SRO to be called out into the community if needed in an emergency.
Several ideas were floated, but the idea that gained the most traction was the concept of the district picking up the cost for school-related overtime.
Superintendent Riley supported the idea of the district covering the overtime-related expenses and transparently shared that any district funding for an SRO would have to be levy-funded, leaving the ultimate decision up to local voters. The financial stakes were driven home by WHS student Aspen Doughty, who asked if absorbing SRO overtime costs might balloon the school levy, potentially swaying voters to reject it—an outcome that would heavily impact school athletics. Riley responded by reassuring the room that the district remains entirely open and transparent about how levy dollars are utilized, ultimately leaving the choice in the hands of the community.
While Chief Gibbs and Councilwoman Michaelson noted they are still calculating specific dollar amounts, early estimates indicate the overtime costs to be under $20,000. Superintendent Riley believed that the amount was not insurmountable.
A Student’s Perspective: No Major Altercations
While the conversation centered around budgets and logistics, the true impact of the SRO program was perfectly summarized in a heartfelt email sent to Superintendent Riley by a graduating WHS senior immediately after the meeting. Reflecting on their time at the high school, the senior painted an SRO before-and-after picture of the campus and his impressions.
"During my Junior year, it was kind of mayhem," the student wrote, recalling multiple fights, students being thrown to the ground, and teachers being unable to safely intervene.
The contrast to this school year, he noted, has been night and day. Aside from one fight at the very beginning of the year before the SRO was integrated, no major altercations have broken out. "It has been incredible to see," the senior shared.
The student also highlighted the SRO's preventative work outside of the hallways, specifically pointing to a pre-prom presentation the officer gave on the dangers of driving under the influence. By bringing in speakers who had lost loved ones to drunk driving, the officer left a lasting impression.
"It was very cool to see how kids responded and acted responsibly on prom night," the senior concluded. "With the preventative measures of our SRO officer... he has impacted our school in a very positive way."
By bringing these raw student perspectives to light alongside city and district leadership, the WHS AP Government class didn't just host a successful presentation—they successfully bridged the gap between policy and real-world impact.
Woodland Public Schools