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PUBLIC SAFETY Grants Pass considers adding campus officers Comment By Alex Madison of the Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Alex Madison of the Daily Courier Posted Apr. 30, 2016 at 1:26 PM By Alex Madison of the Daily Courier Posted Apr. 30, 2016 at 1:26 PM » Social News Retired police officers may soon walk the halls alongside students of the Grants Pass School District, with the goal to increase student safety. Earlier this week, the School Board discussed a proposed school marshal concept that would employ retired officers to serve on school campuses as armed security. The district currently employs a full-time police officer, known as a student resource officer, who monitors campus security for all 10 schools in the district. Most of his time, however, is spent at Grants Pass High School. The proposed program would employ 10 school marshals, one for each school in the district, including six elementary schools, two middle schools, Grants Pass High School, and the alternative school known as the Gladiola campus. The purpose of the program is to maintain school campus security, increase student safety, and address inappropriate student conduct. Each marshal would be equipped with soft body armor, a police radio, and a concealed weapon, all while dressed discreetly to blend in with staff. The program would be underwritten by the school district, although the marshals themselves would be employed by the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety. Appearing before the school board last week, city Public Safety Director Bill Landis called the proposal "cost effective" because the school marshals would not receive benefits on a reduced part-time pay of $25 an hour, approximately $22,000 annually. The Three Rivers School District, which covers rural Josephine County as well as Cave Junction and a portion of the Applegate Valley in neighboring Jackson County, is considering a similar proposal. A special levy of 5 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value is on the May 17 primary ballot to pay for the program. The measure will appear only on the ballots of those living in the Three Rivers School District. Grants Pass board member Cliff Kuhlman called the proposed program "another step towards safety." The school marshal job description was approved by the Grants Pass City Council on April 11. If the program is approved by the school district, school marshals could be on duty before the end of the school year as part of a pilot program. Landis said it wasn't until the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in 2012 that Landis began formulating the idea for a school marshal program after noticing that experienced, retired officers were working as security guards at Asante Three Rivers Medical Center. "Over the last few years we've had many proposals — increased mental health programs, arming teachers — but they're not a direct solution to the problem, which led me to this program," Landis said. The school board will again discuss the proposal at the next school board meeting, on May 10. By Alex Madison of the Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Alex Madison of the Daily Courier Posted Apr. 30, 2016 at 1:26 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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