LOS ANGELES, Calif. – A $3.7 million budget shortfall from the state School Safety Program could mean fewer officers to protect East Valley schools this fall.
The School Safety Program pays for resource and probation officers in 280 schools. With salaries and benefits increasing faster than the funding authorized by state lawmakers, the program may have to make cutbacks in the upcoming academic year.
Last year, the program allocated nearly $17.1 million to fund school resource officers (SROs). This year, the cost to maintain the status quo has risen to $18 million.
Officials at the Mesa Unified School District, California’s largest district, had to eliminate all the officers at their junior high schools last year. They say police officers play a vital role in fighting the rise in gang activity and educating students on safety.
Lawmakers are scheduled to meet this month to allocate funds. Tom Horne, state superintendent of public instruction, urged school districts earlier this summer not to make any contracts with police officers until after the meeting had taken place.
