FINDLAY, OH (WTOL) - Findlay City Schools is looking into placing police officers inside their school buildings. But the school district can't pay for the new program alone and would like to hire six to ten Findlay police officers to be stationed inside of their school buildings.
The newly created positions would be filled by veterans.
The final cost of the project is unknown, as the school board has not decided on how many officers it would like to hire. But the district has asked the city to help offset the cost if voters do approve the measure in November.
"And a big component of this is not only what the school district will eventually be seeking in a levy, but it's the city's financial support. And I am prepared to place that in our budget, and I'm looking forward to seeing what happens in November," said Findlay Mayor Lydia Mihalik.
But the plan goes beyond just law enforcement.
The district would also like to hire additional, on site mental health professionals. This is all in efforts to take a more proactive approach to school safety, to help any at risk students who may be struggling with a mental issue.
"Having a clinical counselor and a liaison between what we're doing within the schools and what's going on with outside agencies that also do a great job for us. That connection would really heighten what we do with mental health services," said FCS superintendent Ed Kurt.
For this resource officer issue to be on the November ballot, Findlay City School board must pass two resolutions this month to have it available for approval at the State's Auditors office on August 8.
