STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

The Hailey Police Department was recognized as a Model SRO Agency Friday, June 30, at the National Association of School Resource Officers annual National School Safety Conference in Indianapolis.

Two full-time school resource officers—<organ Ballis and Shawna Wallace—work to increase safety and foster safe learming environments for the school district’s eight schools. Ballis will also serve as the incoming president of the Idaho Association of School Resource Officers.

The two officers have worked with the school district to develop and revise safety and emergency protocols, provide staff training on safety and prevention procedures, implement trauma-informed practices and establish risk assessment teams.

“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of the Hailey Police Department and the support of our SROs within our schools,” said BCSD Superintendent Jim Foudy. “They can regularly be found attending school events and in classrooms discussing topics from Idaho laws to fostering healthy relationships. They go above and beyond to support our students and staff members in a variety of ways. This honor from NASRO is certainly well deserved.”