For Hub City Times

It is that time of year again. Backpacks filled with sharpened pencils. Paper fills shiny folders. As a new school year starts, it is important for students, families, and the community to understand the school policies for the upcoming year.

Marshfield Area Coalition for Youth (MACY) and Marshfield Clinic support the mission of drug-free schools. Both the School District of Marshfield and Columbus Catholic Schools have drug-free schools policies.

These policies are meant to create alcohol-, tobacco-, and drug-free environments for students, staff, and visitors. The School District of Marshfield offers the Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment educational program to students under violation of the code of conduct. It is important that families review their child’s school drug-free policy.

Ask the Marshfield Police Department

Question: What is a school resource officer?

Answer: A school resource officer is a law enforcement officer who is specifically assigned to work in the various schools in Marshfield. There are school resource officers assigned to the Marshfield High School and Marshfield Middle School, but they also spend time at each elementary school as well as Columbus Catholic Schools.

The main focus of school resource officers is to make sure students and staff members are safe within the schools. They investigate criminal matters that occur on school grounds or that involve students; give presentations to students on various topics, such as bullying and internet safety; and participate in other community-oriented policing activities.

You might see school resource officers working at the high school football games or other community events such as the MACY bonfire. Check out the Marshfield Police Department school resource officers’ Facebook page at facebook.com/MarshfieldPDSRO.

Schedule a MACY Drug Task Force presentation or submit “Ask Marshfield Police Department” questions to Marshfield Clinic Center for Community Outreach at 715-221-8400 or by emailing cco@marshfieldclinic.org.