This file photo shows an aerial view of Ishpeming High School. (Journal photo by Dreyma Beronja)

ISHPEMING — Ishpeming Public Schools is making changes to create a safer school environment and provide more resources for its students.

The Ishpeming City Council approved a motion to work with the school district to hire a student resource officer.

IPS Superintendent Carrie Meyer announced that the district was awarded a state grant to fund the new position.

The National Association of School Resource Officers website says the position should be filled by a carefully selected, specifically trained and properly equipped law enforcement officer with sworn authority.

According to the site, the SRO should also be trained in school-based law enforcement and crisis response.

The position is generally assigned through a local law enforcement agency to work collaboratively with one or more schools using community-oriented policing concepts.

“We see this both as a win-win for the school district because this is a salary for a full year, and if you think about it, our school is only in session for 180 days,” Meyer said at the meeting.

When school is not in session, the resource officer will be available to cover holiday breaks and also work over the summer.

The officer would also be available at the beginning of the season for the district’s sports teams.

The district was approved for $186,245 from the state to cover the next three years, Meyer said in an email.

IPSD is responsible for the rest of the cost, a 50-50 match totalling $372,850.

“I think this is phenomenal,” Ishpeming Mayor Jason Chapman said during the council meeting. “I think this is a really, really good step.”

The city, chief of police and the school district will work together to train and prepare an officer for the new role. The hiring process has begun and the new SRO is expected to be selected and hired by this summer.

To watch the full city council meeting, visit youtube.com/watch?v=tMo7rMKgXjQ&t=3199s.