School Resource Officer Richard Nothstein gave a presentation to the Salisbury Township School Board at its Aug. 7 operations committee meeting.

Nothstein, who is entering his fourth year as the district's resource officer, said he received 379 calls during the past school year. During his first year on the job he received about 300 calls and 338 the following year.

From the 379 calls made during the 2012-2013 school year came 103 arrests. A majority of the arrests were for truancy.

Students have three school days to provide a written excuse from school before it is considered an illegal absence.

There were a total of 53 truancy arrests in the district, most of which came from the high school and middle school.

Disorderly conduct was the next highest offense, with 19 arrests. There were also nine arrests for theft, seven for simple assault and three each for drug and tobacco violations.

Nothstein said truancy arrests are on the rise in the district and he is working with the high school and middle school on a truancy elimination program.

"After two unlawful absences, [students] are going to have a sit down with the administration and they're going to be given a packet, so they'll know that after they get to their third, these are going to be the consequences," Nothstein said. "There's a 90-day suspension of their driver's license and up to a $300 fine." Nothstein says giving the students a truancy packet will eliminate a step and make the students aware of the consequences before they head to court.

Nothstein said a school resource officer does more than make arrests. He makes classroom visits and gives presentations, including one on sexting this past school year.

Operations committee chair Frank Frankenfield said as a parent with children in the district, he feels a lot safer with the SRO program in the schools. Superintendent Michael Roth praised Nothstein for his proactive work.

"It's an absolute pleasure working with this gentleman," Roth said, who jokingly added he wished the district had the money and technology to make a clone of Nothstein.

In other business, the Class of 2013 is donating $4,184 in leftover funds to the Michele Honochick Memorial Scholarship. The recipients of the scholarship will receive $500, half of which goes to the charity of his or her choice.

"Those of us who knew Michele Honochick know [this scholarship] is her," Tanya Kennedy, 2013 class advisor said. "She would be so upset if we were doing something in her name unless something was going to charity."

Kennedy added the money donated to the scholarship was unanimously approved by the Class of 2013. "That's a lot of money," Kennedy said. "There are some plans to solicit for donations to try to grow it."

Honochick was a librarian at Salisbury High School, who died in 2012. She also served as the advisor to the Key Club.

Two gifted students, rising senior Shannon Pennella and rising junior Taylor Hoffman, started the scholarship as a way to carry on Honochick's memory.

"I was really close with 'Miss H.' because my mom worked in the library with her, so I knew her on a different level," Pennella said. "I realized half our school doesn't even know who Miss H. is anymore and I didn't want her to be forgotten."