HARRIS – The Bark River-Harris School Board has partnered with TEAM Wireless in Escanaba to fund Bark River-Harris School District’s full-time School Resource Officer for the third year in a row.

According to Bark River-Harris Superintendent Jeremy Pach, it costs more than $100,000 to fund the salary of a full-time K-12 SRO at the school district. TEAM Wireless has generously donated about three quarters of that amount. The remaining amount comes from the school district’s general fund.

Pach also searches for grants to cover the remaining costs.

“We do it year to year. If (TEAM Wireless) continues to donate, I’m going to continue to seek out grants to help match the funds,” Pach said.

TEAM Wireless CEO Brian Boucher has donated to the school district’s SRO salary for the last three years. Boucher feels strongly about giving back to the community.

“Education and safety are the foundation of strong communities. TEAM Wireless is honored to contribute to Bark River-Harris Schools in this meaningful way because of the continued support that we get with people shopping locally with us. We are able to donate and give back to our community in ways like this,” Boucher said in a written statement.

“We believe that creating a secure and supportive learning environment helps every student succeed, and we are proud to stand alongside the school board in making that a reality.”

Boucher, who lives in Escanaba with his wife and children, purchased the Escanaba location at 609 N. Lincoln Road in 2001. TEAM Wireless is a Verizon authorized retailer, certified mobile device repair center and they sell various wireless accessories.

Throughout the county, the Menominee Police Department employs former Michigan State Trooper Dan Bartell as the SRO for Menominee Junior/Senior High School and Menominee Elementary School. The Menominee County Sheriff’s Office employs Deputy Judi Hanson as the SRO for Stephenson, Carney, and North Central Powers schools, according to Sheriff Darrin Kudwa.

The Bark River-Harris School District first hired Deputy Max Scheriff from the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office to be the school’s SRO three years ago after securing funding from TEAM Wireless. Scheriff left after one year and was replaced by Deputy Jedediah Tabor, also from the Menominee County Sheriff’s Office.

Tabor said he jumped at the chance when the job was posted before the 2024-25 school year.

“I saw an opportunity to be the most positive and impactful I have been in my career by supporting students in some of their most formative years. Whether offering guidance, building trust or being a steady and approachable presence, I saw the role as a chance to make a difference in students’ lives that will stay with them long after they leave school,” Tabor said in a written statement.

Pach said of the SRO, “He’s working with students on mentorship, law enforcement questions, building relationships among parents and the community. He attends events, chaperones, supervises and works with students on the playground. He’s a jack of all trades.”

The students, Tabor said, “enjoy asking questions about the equipment I wear, my patrol vehicle, law enforcement, the military, and everyday things, seeking my advice, opinion, or input on many different topics.”

Tabor’s diverse role allows him to connect with all ages of students as well as their parents and teachers. “So maybe one day he’s helping a student up on the playground, a kindergartner, and then the next hour he’s in a social studies class talking about laws and regulations,” Pach noted.

Plus having an SRO provide campus security year-round.

“As a trained deputy inside the building with over ten years of law enforcement experience (certified in 2015 in Kansas, last with the Hutchinson, KS Police Department, 2024 in Michigan, Menominee County Sheriff’s Office) and a prior enlistment in the Marine Corps as a rifleman (2nd Battalion 4th Marines, 2010-2015), my visible presence and even my clearly marked patrol vehicle parked in the parking lot can deter criminal behavior,” Tabor said in a written statement.

“Having an SRO helps ensure immediate safety and response to many levels of crisis, fosters preparedness, and grows relationships between law enforcement and the students and community it serves in a positive light,” Tabor said.