Troy

The city school district will pay to have two city police officers at Troy middle and high schools for the 2017-18 school year, district officials said. The city administration will apply for a new federal grant to cover future costs.

The district set aside $200,000 to cover the police costs for one year, but anticipates the expense will be lower since the officers won't be working as school resource officers the entire year.

Superintendent John Carmello and Board of Education President Jason Schofield said the SROs are popular among district residents.

"It's a great thing that the district is able to save the SROs," Schofield said.

The school district is drawing on its budget surplus to pay for its two SROs. The district expects to exceed the 4 percent state cap on the fund balance it can keep in reserve. The one-time SRO payment would come from this fund.

Mayor Patrick Madden didn't plan to send officers back to the city schools without new federal funding to avoid overtime costs and maintain patrol division staffing.

While the city has been in contact with the Troy school district, Madden said he had no discussions with the Lansingburgh Central School District about funding its SRO.

The federal funding agreement ends June 30. The city didn't eliminate the three SRO positions from the 130-member police force but returned the officers to patrol duties.

Madden previously said the city would study police overtime as it related to the SROs.

The city is trying to have maximum patrol officers available for each shift, Madden said.

"The public wants to see a police presence out on the street," he said.

The city anticipates the U.S. Department of Justice will announce an application period in May for funding SROs. Madden said the city would apply.

Carmello said the school district has to work out the details of the financing for the officers with the city and the terms for having them in the schools. The superintendent said the one-year arrangement anticipates the city obtaining the federal funding.

Madden said he wants to arrange a meeting among officials from the Troy and Lansingburgh school districts, his administration and the police department to discuss what should be expected in the future.

Madden said he supports having SROs in both school systems.

kcrowe@timesunion.com • 518-454-5084 • @KennethCrowe