JULY 2, 2014
Arizona schools getting 118 school safety resource officers
PHOENIX – A joint committee at the State Legislature today approved funding for 118 school safety resource officers on campuses across Arizona. The School Safety Program Oversight Committee, co-chaired by Senate Education Committee Chair Kimberly Yee, agreed to spend nearly $12 million on the school safety program for the upcoming school year. School safety resource officers will be added on campuses from Yuma to Nogales, from Show Low to Bullhead City.
In addition to providing school safety resource officers, the School Safety Program requires law related education to equip students with knowledge and skills pertaining to law, school safety and effective citizenship.
Arizona voters approved Proposition 301 in 2000, which provides the bulk of funding for the School Safety Program. In 2013, the Legislature committed to additional funding for the program, including $3.6 million in the upcoming fiscal year.
“Today’s action is another sign of this Legislature’s focus on the importance of school safety. We must do all we can to make sure our students feel safe when they are being educated in our public schools,” said Co-chair Yee.
“The importance of law related education should not be ignored. School safety is more than just adding a safety officer on campus. Law related education reinforces to students the significance of a safe environment at their school. It also teaches students the basics of the law and prevention,” said Senator Yee.
Thirty two districts were awarded today, at 137 school sites. In addition to the 118 school safety resource officers, three juvenile probation officers were also added.
