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First Holy Communion at 11 a.m. mass at St. Therese’s Church, Shavertown

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Our Opinion: Campus diversity can benefit college students who don’t shy from new faces

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; The Wyoming Valley West School District voted on Tuesday to use the Larksville Police Department to provide resource officers for both State Street Elementary School and the district&#8217;s high school in Plymouth.</p><p>The cost to the district will be $34,000 for police protection at each school.</p><p>Continuing police resource coverage of State Street Elementary was never at issue.</p><p>But the provision of police coverage at the high school was a topic at meetings of both Larksville and Plymouth borough and the school board.</p><p>Following the eight-month long conflict that has marked the process of choosing a police resource officer provider, the vote seemed anticlimactic.</p><p>Plymouth officials had questioned whether Larksville police could provide protection at a school located in Plymouth after Plymouth announced its intent to pull out of a mutual aid agreement among West Side municipalities, including Larksville.</p><p>In the end, all three entities emphasized the importance of providing a safe environment for students.</p><p>&#8220;With both a police officer and a K-9 officer at the high school, I don&#8217;t think that we are going to have major problems with drugs or weapons at the high school,&#8221; said school board member James Fender.</p><p>Fender said the K-9,&#8221;Una,&#8221; can sniff out drugs and gunpowder.</p><p>Larksville Police Chief John Edwards said he believes the placement of officer Joshua Evans, with a K-9 officer, is a move in the right direction.</p><p>&#8220;I think it is going to work well, fantastically,&#8221; he said in a phone interview.</p><p>Edwards said that in situations where student behavior rose to a criminal offense, Evans would contact the Plymouth Police Department, and they would intervene.</p><p>In those cases, he said, Evans would serve as a witness in court if that was necessary.</p><p>Still, Edwards emphasized that in an emergency, Edwards retains his authority as a police officer.</p><p>&#8220;If he sees two kids fighting, he&#8217;s not going to let them beat each other up waiting around for Plymouth police to respond,&#8221; he said. &#8220;He&#8217;s going to keep the students safe.&#8221;</p><p>The board also made the following last-minute appointments, anticipating the upcoming school year:</p><p>&#8226; Jake Sholtis was appointed principal of State Street Elementary, replacing Amy Scibek, who resignation was accepted at the meeting. His salary will be $70,000.</p><p>&#8226; William Wright was appointed elementary assistant principal at a salary of $62,000.</p><p>&#8226; Amanda Carey and Megan Martin were appointed as special education teachers at $44,000, with a $1,100 stipend for preparation of Individual Education Plans (IEPs).</p><p>&#8226; Joseph James was appointed music teacher at State Street Elementary School at a salary of $70,000.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Officer Joshua Evans and his K-9 partner &#8220;Una&#8221; will be heading to the Wyoming Valley West High School next week to serve as resource officers </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/web1_auction02.jpg</photo0><caption0>Officer Joshua Evans and his K-9 partner &#8220;Una&#8221; will be heading to the Wyoming Valley West High School next week to serve as resource officers </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Wyoming Valley West will keep Larksville police officers at high school