GF Schools ink deal for SRO program

The Grand Forks School Resource Officer program is good to go for another year.

School board members have inked a new contract with the GFPD that splits the cost of salary and benefits for the SRO’s. The district portion of the bill will climb to just over $189,000 dollars for the 2023-24 school year.

One change to the program is the addition of a designated sergeant to provide coverage if an officer is absent.  Associate Superintendent of Secondary Education Catherine Gillach says they are also planning an in-service session for aspiring SRO’s.  “We know we have a lot of officers out on patrol who are interested in potentially becoming SRO’s if they have an opportunity for training.”  Gillach says that will only make for a stronger program.

Both sides say the presence of School Resource Officers at each secondary school has had a dramatic proactive and positive effect on school climate…safety…and youth-centered community resource collaboration.