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Savage police propose SRO for local schools; board asks for family input and budget details
Summary
Savage Police Chief presented a proposal to re-establish a school resource officer (SRO) for ISD 191 schools in Savage, citing proactive relationships, quicker on-site response and a partially suspended COPS grant. Estimated first-year district cost with grant support: about $50,848; board members asked for family and student input and for clarity about funding after grant expiration.
Savage Police Chief presented a work-session proposal to assign a school resource officer to ISD 191 schools located within the city of Savage. The chief outlined prior district experience with SROs, local call volumes at schools, and an embedded social-worker partnership with Scott County.
The city secured a federal COPS grant that could provide about $125,000 over three years (roughly $42,000 per year) but the grant is currently suspended because no district contract exists yet. The chief said the grant could, depending on timing, effectively cover only two remaining years if the agreement and position are not in place for the earlier grant year. With the city and grant supplementing the position, the estimated first-year cost to the district would be about $50,848; absent grant support the shared-cost model could move toward a 50/50 cost split and a district share of roughly $55—5,000 annually depending on officer pay and benefits.
Chief and city leaders emphasized that an on-site SRO shortens response time, supports emergency planning and drills, and creates daily relationship-building opportunities that many school and city leaders see as preventive and supportive rather than purely enforcement-oriented. The chief described the SRO assignment as a specialty role with a five-year recommended tenure to preserve continuity and training investment.
Board members asked about equity across district schools (would some middle schools have SROs and others not?), whether families in Savage support the proposal after the community's experience during Operation Metro Surge, selection and hiring participation for the officer, and how the district would budget any ongoing share after grant funds lapse. Chief Juwel said the city does not cooperate with federal immigration enforcement and emphasized community policing work; he recommended stakeholder involvement in selection and said city council supports the proposal.
Board members asked district staff to gather family and student input and to bring principals into selection discussions. No action was taken; trustees requested further analysis of budget, contract terms and community sentiment before any commitment.
