CHS POLICE OFFICER MAY BE FUNDED BY TWO TOWNS AND SCHOOL DISTRICT

Maplewood, South Orange and the Board of Education may share the cost of a school resource officer (SRO), to the tune of $50,000, for Columbia High School, Mayor Vic Deluca announced last week.

At Wednesday night's Township Committee meeting, Deluca revealed that applications filed by both Maplewood and South Orange for grants to pay for the SRO police officer were denied.

But he said an alternative that would have the two towns and the school district sharing the cost, which would be at least $50,000, is still being considered.

"That proposal is still viable and each of us would be interested," Deluca said. "To put a portion of that person's salary into the new 2016 budget."

He said the breakdown has not been decided, but could be one-third from each of the three entities.

This follows several incidents that occurred last year when two lockdowns occured at the high school and a loaded gun was brought by a student to Maplewood Middle School.

Just last month, Schools Superintendent John Ramos announced unarmed security guards had been hired for both middle schools to satisfy an unspecified "vulnerability" at both buildings.

Deluca said funding for the SRO would be discussed again at the next Township Committee meeting on Nov. 16.