Schools

HSD Has Officers at All Secondary Schools, Continues Talks with Local Law Enforcement

The Hazelwood School District spends more than $600,000 a year on school resource officers for all of its high schools and all of its middle schools. Before the start of the New Year, Northwest Middle School did not have an officer.

The Hazelwood School District (HSD) has a significant investment in its student's safety.

In a recent article about the NRA wanting armed officers in every American school, it was mentioned that hiring police to patrol schools falls on the each individual district.

Police Presence

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For the 2012-13 school year the HSD school resource officer budget for salaries is $618,793.  And in some cases like with Hazelwood Schools, depending on the various municipalities, the cost is split, with HSD paying a percentage and the police departments paying a percentage, said.

As of the start of the New Year a senior resource officer began having a presence at Hazelwood Northwest Middle School, the only HSD middle or high school that did not have a police officer.

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Gulotta said HSD has not added any SROs at the elementary or early childhood levels.

Talking About Safety

In light of the recent school shootings in Connecticut, Hazelwood School District administrators are continuing talks with local fire and police departments.

HSD recently held a second meeting with local police and fire including the Hazelwood Police Department, along with Florissant and St. Louis police departments, as well as the Florissant Valley, Spanish Lake and Black Jack fire protection districts.

The purpose of the meeting was to improve communication and re-examine and review safety procedures to ensure the safety of students and staff. HSD first met with police and fire officials in late December immediately following the Sandy Hook school shootings.


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