Westport gets school resource officer; officials want more

Students at Staples High School in Westport were greeted by a school resource officer for the very first time, although district officials say they hoped to see more of them.
Superintendent Dr. Colleen Palmer says she has been pushing for school resource officers since she arrived to the district two years ago and that she wanted at least two more at the middle schools. But it's a matter of from where the money to pay for them will come.
The Board of Education met again Monday night to discuss possible options. As News 12 has reported, the BOE passed a motion in the spring to add three SROs to the district for this school year. Funding for the police department's D.A.R.E officer will be reallocated to pay for the high school's SRO. The Board of Finance, however, did not approve funding for two more SROs.
On the table right now is the possibility of funding them through police overtime.
Some parents News 12 spoke with Tuesday morning say they're more worried about their child getting into a car accident than an event like an active shooter happening at school. Others brought up the school shooting threat at Staples High last February and say they'll continue to push for more SROs.
The Board of Finance must now decide if it will put the issue back on their agenda. It meets again next week.