OTTAWA — The Ottawa Police Department has received a grant that will allow the Ottawa school district to continue its school resource officer program. Police Chief Dennis Butler said the nearly $164,000 grant will allow his department to keep an SRO at Ottawa schools for the next two years at no cost to the department and school district.
School superintendent Dean Katt said Gutler called him this morning about winning the grant. Katt said he is excited that the city got the grant and expressed thanks to Butler and the city. Because of state cutbacks in aid to public schools, the Ottawa school board had to cut the SRO position from next year’s budget and the police department didn’t have to money to continue the program, he said. Many parents were concerned about losing the SRO, who works with students in Ottawa schools and provides security, but the board had little choice, Katt said. Butler said the federal grant comes through the Kansas Judicial Coordinating Council will help maintain a safe learning environment at Ottawa schools.
