RATHDRUM, Idaho — Schools in Idaho are making safety a priority. Twenty-seven school districts will receive grant funding to hire school resource officers.
Originally, this was a competitive grant where the 27 school districts applied, and only a few would be selected. However, Idaho wanted to spread this resource to all. The state was able to pull funding to provide the grant to all 27 school districts.
Lakeland Joint School District is one of those applicants. Here are the other schools that will be receiving the funding:
- West Bonner School District
- Plummer-Worley School District
- St Marie’s Joint School District
- Boundary County School District
- Orofino School District
- Genesee Joint School District
- Lapwai School District
- Lewiston School District
- Elevate Academy
The state of Idaho will provide $2,201,415 to local schools to help fund the 27 school resource officer positions this year.
The funding originally came from the Idaho Millennium Fund, which resulted from a master settlement with Tobacco companies. The grant money will sustain resource officer positions for up to three years.
The first school district to hire its resource officer in late September was the Orofino School District. Deputy Colton Rose was chosen for the role, and he said he was “over the moon” when he found out.
“I am super excited to do this," Rose said. "I am not out here to criminalize the kids. I want the best for the kids. And I am excited to be with them from when they start kindergarten up until they graduate. I am excited to see how they grow from there.”
Rose comes from the Clearwater County Sheriff's Office, and he will be working within all grade levels at Orofino Junior Senior High School, Orofino Elementary, Timberline School, Cavendish and the Youth Challenge Academy.
The Idaho Department of Education said the school districts are overjoyed to receive this funding. Many schools have struggled with not passing their levies, forcing districts to let go of their school resource officers. Their hope is to enforce the law and provide safety education while building healthy relationships with law enforcement.