With schools shifting to virtual learning, most Southwest Florida school resource officers being reassigned

Apologies to Alice Cooper, but school is not out for summer.

It's taking place in virtual classrooms as educators cope with disruptions caused by the novel coronavirus. With empty halls and classrooms, it also means law enforcement agencies assigned to protect schools are having to adapt as well.

"At this time, School Resource Officers are handling a variety of different positions within the Police Department," said Master Sgt. Patrick O'Grady of the Cape Coral Police Department. "Some SROs are at schools that are giving meals to children that would not have them otherwise. Some have been assigned to our Telephone Response Unit to field questions and take crime and incident reports over the phone. Some are working as patrol officers."

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Agencies across Southwest Florida are making similar changes as in-person instruction in Lee and Collier County public schools remains suspended until April 15 at a minimum because of COVID-19. Gov. Ron DeSantis made the decision to close campuses at K-12 schools in the state more than a week ago.

Lee and Collier County public schools' foray strictly into e-learning starts March 30.

Lee County Sheriff's Office Lt. Anita Iriarte said the majority of its SROs would be assigned patrol duties.

With Lee County schools handing out Chromebooks to students who need them for their assignments and offering "Grab & Go" breakfast and lunch meals to anyone 18 and younger, a small group of SROs and deputies previously assigned to courthouse operations have been given related assignments, she said.

More: Lee County students start virtual instruction March 30. Here's what it might look like.

Mitch Haley, a spokesman with the Fort Myers Police Department, said its SROs would be assisting with those duties as well and handling patrol duties when available.

In Collier County, its SROs are also being reassigned, but the agency declined to provide specifics, calling the information tactical.

While actual law enforcement is one of the functions of SROs, it's not the only role they play in schools.

More: Lee County families find relief with 'Grab & Go' meals offered by school district

The Cape Coral Police Department, for example, mentors kids along with providing classroom education on law-related topics and good citizenry.

Those types of contacts will be affected as officers are reassigned and attempting to meet the social distancing guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"The focus of the Cape Coral Police Department is maintaining the safety of our officers and community," O'Grady said. "With the fears of exposure to COVID-19, we will not be able to mentor children in person."

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Haley said with students being at home, that type of supervision would fall on their parents.

Lutheran Services Florida, which partners with and accepts referrals from local law enforcement agencies, the Juvenile Assessment Center and all schools in District 20, which includes Southwest Florida, said its services are still available for parents and at-risk children in need.

More: Gov. DeSantis says K-12 schools must stay closed until April 15, classes to resume remotely

Shelia Dixon, clinical director of the southwest region, said while the nonprofit has had to adapt its communications methods, it hasn't closed the books on having in-person meetings for families that aren't comfortable having counseling done over the phone

Like law enforcement and healthcare providers, it is doing screening to ensure a safe and healthy environment.

“We have gotten creative and innovative,” Dixon said. “We have the ability to keep in contact."

To become better attuned to what is going on at home, Dixon said the agency is working with school districts to understand what their virtual classrooms will look like.

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She added that modern technology advances would allow them to come up with creative things for kids to do at home as activities slow down. One added advantage was that it allows the agency to have more contacts with families, she said.

While the slowdown of businesses and idle minds could lead to more kids getting themselves into trouble, Dixon said it was too soon to identify any trends.

More: Collier nutrition workers 'make sure that kids get a meal' while coronavirus keeps school closed

Those comments were echoed by local law enforcement agencies, which haven't seen any noticeable changes in juvenile crime.

"There has been no discernible increase in juvenile types of crime aside from some vehicles being entered when left unlocked, that is often the case when schools are out," Haley said.

To arrange services, Lutheran Services Florida can be reached at 239-278-1030.

Connect with reporter Devan Patel: @DevanJPatel (Twitter) or devan.patel@naplesnews.com

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