CHICAGO – Chicago Public Schools will pay $13 million annually for 152 Chicago Police Department officers to monitor 106 high schools within the district.
The district previously paid $8 million annually to station two officers at every high school for an eight-hour school day – roughly $80,000 per school, the Chicago Sun-Times reports.
However, Chicago PD administrators said that it actually cost $25 million – roughly $250,000 per school – for police services.
Some CPS representatives don’t believe two police officers in high schools is necessary, prompting the district to offer high school principals $25,000 for every officer they agreed to give up to cut costs and send needed officers back on the street.
However, because concerns about campus safety grew, only four principals agreed to give up both officers, while a dozen schools only gave up one officer. This led the district to stop paying police officers during summer and mid-school year vacation breaks.
The new agreement, which runs through Dec. 31, 2015 with a pair of one-year renewal options, calls for uniformed officers to be stationed in rooms with computers that are connected to the Chicago PD network. Officers are also required to maintain daily reports on all crimes and arrests committed at high schools.
CPS maintains the right to audit police records to verify billings. Additionally, the district can terminate the agreement without penalty if there are not sufficient appropriated funds to meet security costs.