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$25M in funding to support hiring of school resource officers in 195 Michigan school districts

Some districts in West Michigan will be receiving funding, including Cedar Springs Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools and Lowell Area Schools.
Credit: AP
FILE- Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer addresses the crowd during inauguration ceremonies on Sunday, Jan. 1, 2023, outside the state Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Whitmer will travel to Europe next week for a five-day trip to promote the state's recent economic developments and with hopes of attracting new businesses in the automotive and clean energy industries. (AP Photo/Al Goldis, File)

MICHIGAN, USA — As part of a statewide program, 195 school districts in Michigan will receive funding to hire a school resource officer (SRO) for the next three years.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the program on Tuesday. $25 million in funds will go toward these SRO hires, which will help protect over 334,000 students, according to the state.

“Every parent wants their kids to be safe at school,” said Gov. Whitmer. “These grants will help us hire almost 200 more School Resource Officers so we can make sure our children, teachers, and staff are safe at school. Let’s keep working together to make record investments in our students and improve their classroom experience, build up school infrastructure, hire excellent educators, and invest in their comprehensive well-being, from mental health to safety.”    

The grants were awarded by a panel of education and policing representatives. Schools without SROs or with lower per-pupil funding were prioritized in the grant distribution.

Areas in West Michigan receiving funding include Cedar Springs Public Schools, Godfrey-Lee Public Schools, Grant Public Schools, Holton Public Schools, Kent City Community Schools, Lowell Area Schools, Montague Area Public Schools, Muskegon Middle School and North Muskegon Public Schools.

SRO Funding Disbursement

Allegan

  • Allegan Public Schools Allegan - $190,994 2,200
  • Fennville Public Schools Fennville - $158,443 1,244
  • Hamilton Community Schools Hamilton - $161,750 2,875
  • Hopkins Public Schools Hopkins - $166,141 1,486

Barry

  • Hastings Area School System Hastings - $75,000 2,545

Kalamazoo

  • Comstock Public Schools Kalamazoo - $200,000
  • Parchment School District Parchment - $133,302

Kent

  • Cedar Springs Public Schools Cedar Springs - $191,895 
  • Godfrey-Lee Public Schools Wyoming - $104,631
  • Kent City Community Schools Kent City - $189,456
  • Lowell Area Schools Lowell - $176,902

Mason

  • Ludington Elementary School Ludington - $155,670 
  • Mason County Eastern Schools Custer - $159,000 
  • West Shore Educational Service District Ludington Mason $200,000

Montcalm

  • Central Montcalm Public Schools Stanton - $116,095
  • Greenville Public Schools Greenville - $83,003 
  • Montabella Community Schools Blanchard - $70,500 
  • Seiter Education Center Greenville - $150,000

Muskegon

  • Holton Public Schools Holton - $187,605 
  • Montague Area Public Schools Montague - $110,863 
  • Muskegon Middle School Muskegon - $172,938 
  • North Muskegon Public Schools North Muskegon - $191,770

Newaygo

  • Fremont Public Schools Fremont - $131,966
  • Grant Public Schools Grant - $118,146
  • Hesperia Community Schools Hesperia - $90,000 
  • Newaygo County RESA Fremont - $128,778
  • Newaygo Public Schools Newaygo - $109,850

Oceana

  • Hart Public Schools Hart - $132,905
  • Pentwater Public Schools Pentwater - $91,222 
  • Shelby Public Schools Shelby - $165,232

“These grant awards will not only help to provide better safety in our school buildings by increasing the number of schools throughout the state with at least one SRO, but very importantly, by prioritizing smaller schools in more remote areas, we will reduce the time it takes for a police response in the event of an emergency,” said MSP Director Col. Joe Gasper.  

Click here to see a full list of schools awarded funding through the program.

    

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