Sault Area Schools to get resource police officer

After a several year hiatus, a resource police officer will be assigned to an eastern Upper Peninsula school district.

The Sault Ste. Marie City Police Department and Sault Area Public Schools will team up for the project.

In 2015, voters approved a millage for better security in the schools. Security cameras, entrance buzzers and card readers were among the several improvements.

Last year, the new school superintendent and new city police chief devised a plan to get an officer assigned to the district. It’s much more than providing another level of security.

“Our goal is to increase relationships, increase engagements with our students and staff, increase attendance, decrease dropout rates, so we have some big picture goals that we have,” said Sault Area Schools Superintendent Amy Scott-Kronemeyer.

The school district has agreed to pay $100,000 for the first school year, $103,000 for the second and $105,000 for the third.