Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org
Surnames: Boon, Baxter, Haines, Hirsch
----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 3/24/2021
NHS Senior Designs Logo for School Officer’s Vehicle
Neillsville High School student Taylor Boon was recently congratulated by school resource officer Dylan Baxter (middle) and Sheriff Scott Haines (right) for designing the logo for the School resource officer’s vehicle. She was presented a $100 check for coming up with the winning design.
Ryan Spoehr/Clark County Press
By Valerie Brecht
Neillsville High School senior Taylor Boon’s artistic skills were recently put to good use as she designed the logo for the school resource officers vehicle.
Clark County Sheriff’s Department deputy Dylan Baxter has ben working at St. John’s Lutheran School and the Neillsville and Granton public schools this year as a school resource officer [SRO]. He and Sheriff Scott Haines wanted to have a vehicle symbol of his involvement in the schools on his work vehicle.
“The Sheriff, Chief Deputy [James] Hirsch and I sat down and brainstormed ideas to involve the schools in a concept design for our new SRO squad car. We felt it was very important to have their input in that process, as the SRO position itself is a liaison between the schools and the sheriff’s office. We wanted to create an easily identifiable squad car that would represent both the sheriff’s office and the three schools we serve,” said Baxter.
They came up with the idea of having a contest for students to come up with a logo that represented all three schools. The contest was open to students at all three schools. However, partially due to the pandemic and a large number of students learning virtually, only three students submitted designs. The superintendents and principals of the three schools then voted for the winner, with a total of seven votes cast.
“[I] asked them to choose which of the designs best represented all three schools we serve,” said Baxter.
After the winner was chosen, Baxter got the design approved by Haines and Hirsch before having it sent to the contractor to be made. Baxter and Haines then stopped by Neillsville High School on March 15 to congratulate Boon and present her with a $100 check.
“I was shocked, at first, for sure. I was definitely shocked because I just learned an hour ago, and I couldn’t believe it because I didn’t expect it at all,” said Boon that day.
She also got to view the new logo on the squad vehicle. She designed the log as part of her drawing class.
“I just found a way to incorporate all three schools’ mascots, and this was the best way; it kinda worked out. I just brainstormed for a while and I thought this is what made sense the most,” she said.
The logo that Taylor Boon designed to represent the school resource officer position incorporates the mascots of all three schools the officer serves: the Granton Bulldogs, Neillsville Warriors and St. John’s Hornets.
School resource officer
Baxter began as SRO this past fall. His position is funded through a federal Rural Communities Opioid Response Program grant. As an officer, he is there to promote school safety and respond to any situation that may require law enforcement assistance. His other job duties include counseling and mentoring students; and educating students on topics such as sexual abuse, bullying and internet safety. Editor Ryan Spoehr contributed to this story.
