COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – An agreement between the City of Coldwater and Coldwater Community Schools to fund a second School Resource Officer was approved Monday night by the Coldwater City Council.
Public Safety Director Joe Scheid said a state grant that would fund the second officer who would be working at Legg Middle School covers three years.
The $109,000 grant was announced earlier this year by the Michigan State Police Office of School Safety as part of its School Resource Officer Resource Program.
Coldwater Police Officer Antesar Azookari will serve as the S.R.O. at Legg.
Coldwater Police Officer Robin Swartz has split her time between Legg Middle School and Coldwater High School since becoming the district’s lone S.R.O. in 2020.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer announced in January that 195 school districts, intermediate school districts, and public-school academies will get nearly $25 million to support the hiring of the officers for the next three years.
Officials from the governor’s office said at the time that the program is set to improve safety and security for more than 334,000 students.
Other area districts receiving funds for an S.R.O. include Camden-Frontier, Battle Creek Lakeview, Marshall, Harper Creek, Hillsdale, Hillsdale County I.S.D., Pittsford, Reading and White Pigeon.
The funds, which are administered by the Michigan State Police, are slated to support salaries, benefits, and training for school resource officers.
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