NEW CASTLE —
New Castle City Council expects to approve an agreement Thursday to place six police officers at city schools.
The agreement is an addendum to one approved in 2007 by the city and the New Castle Area School District establishing a resource officer at the high school.
The city hired seven part-time officers last month. Six of them will be stationed at the district’s other schools as a security measure in response to the shooting deaths of students at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn., in December.
Chief Bobby Salem said the new hires are undergoing training, but the schools are being staffed with other veteran officers.
Under the addendum, the initial term of the agreement for the six officers will run from the first day the officers are physically present at the schools through Dec. 31.
The agreement will automatically renew for one additional calendar year unless notice is provided by either party within 60 days of the expiration of the initial term.
The school district will be able to reduce the number of officers at any time because of school consolidation or at its discretion. If there is any reduction, the district must provide a 60-day notice to the city.
The city’s cost is $129,792 in salaries plus about $3,000 for each officer to cover Social Security and other benefits.
Under the agreement, the district will pay the city $20,000 per officer per calendar year, with the amounts being prorated from the date the officers begin serving at the schools.
The school board is expected to consider the agreement at its meeting Wednesday.
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Council expected to OK police for schools
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