School Security Officers Face Possible Cuts

LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) — The Lafayette Parish School Board enters talks this week on how to close a $12 million budget shortfall.

Items on the table for possible elimination include placing police and security officers on middle and high school campuses.

The Advocate reports school resource officer and safety officer program costs the school system about $1.1 million dollars. The money pays for nearly 30 officers who work at all high school campuses and nearly every middle school campus.

Superintendent Pat Cooper said recently that he doesn't want to see the program cut and doubts that it will be, but the program was added to the proposed list of potential cuts because of its hefty price tag.

The board will hold a workshop Tuesday to discuss general fund cut.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.