School Board considers school cop contract offer

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• Area police liaison officer salaries

The Hudson School Board’s finance committee met in closed session earlier this week to consider the city of Hudson’s new contract offer for the school/police liaison officer.

The City Council voted to change the terms of the previous contract and have the school district pay 75 percent of the officer’s wages, benefits and equipment for 12 months. Under the current contract the school district pays 50 percent of the cost of the officer for 10 months of the year.

The city said that if the district does not want to enter into a new contract, they can have the services of an officer on an hourly basis and pay the department a pre-determined hourly rate.

At their meeting in early January, City Council members voted unanimously to increase the amount of the contract, agreeing with Alderperson Lori Bernard, who stated, “The city has been carrying far too much of the cost for this officer.”

School District Deputy Superintendent Nancy Sweet said her office did some checking with districts throughout the area to see how school/police liaison officers are paid. Most of the 10 districts contacted pay 50 percent of the costs for 12 months. The Rice Lake School District pays 75 percent of the cost for the full year and the Stillwater district pays 100 percent of the cost but only for the nine months of the regular school year (see chart with this story).

The Hudson School District has had a school/police liaison officer for 12 years. Officer Mark Crimmins currently holds the position.

Sweet said depending on what the finance committee decides, the issue may be on the agenda at the regular School Board meeting Feb. 10.

Tags: education, hudson, school, police, liaison, officer, contract