Montague Area Public Schools welcomed Dan Dice last week as its new School Resource Officer (SRO), replacing fellow Montague police officer Brandon TenHove, who had been in the position since August 2023.
After TenHove left the position and it was posted within the Montague police department, a round of interviews led to Dice's selection as the new SRO, and he had his first day Monday, Jan. 12.
"We had a couple interviews and we decided Dan's charisma and attitude was the right thing we needed here at Montague Area Public Schools," superintendent Jeffrey Johnson said. "We want to provide a safe environment for all our kids."
Dice, a Montague police officer since 2012 and a full-time officer since 2023, said a desire to be more involved in the community led to him pursuing the SRO position, and he's been pleased with the welcome he's received from the school district. As SRO, he is involved at all four school buildings, employing conflict mediation if needed, visiting classrooms, and putting the district's safety plans into practice when necessary.
"Everybody so far has been welcoming with open arms and a lot of smiles," Dice said. "I've been told multiple times that they appreciate me being at the schools. It creates peace of mind and someone they can lean on. Up to this point, everything's been great and everyone has said to reach out to them if I need anything."
The SRO position is funded in partnership between the City of Montague and the school district, Johnson said, with each party contributing part of the cost. The district has utilized a grant it received from Michigan State Police in 2023 for its share of the funding the past three years. With that grant winding down, the district will utilize federal funds earmarked for school safety in future years to retain the position.
"It's a position that's important to the community," Johnson said. "It provides some safeguards for our community members that we have an individual here that cares about our kids and cares about staff and it helps keep our environment safe, and I think that's important for our community."
Johnson added that the SRO position hopefully demonstrates a commitment to student safety to parents, students and Montague citizens alike.
"We have safety plans in place and we want to make sure we're abiding by those plans and looking for the things that make this a safe environment and community as a whole, being visible to the parents and the kids and creating those relationships," Johnson said. "Whether it's pickups, drop-offs, events, lunchtimes, we're making sure to create an environment where people feel safe and trusted."
Dice is enjoying his new responsibilities and appreciates the opportunity to work with the school district in support of students.
"It's a positive feeling having the chance to work with the school and work with the kids in the community," Dice said. "It's a good feeling, with me being here, that hopefully I can give the parents and the school a peace of mind that there's someone who is watching out for their children."
