Arizona’s schools chief is pushing for more funding for campus safety after a gun was found at a Phoenix elementary school last week.
Two students at Sunland STEAM Academy, a K-8 school in the Roosevelt School District in Phoenix, were detained after they brought a firearm to campus, according to a press release from Arizona state Rep. Junelle Cavero last Wednesday.
Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne says his office is seeing an increase in requests for grant money so schools can hire on-campus security. But it would be up to legislators to dole out additional funding.
"If we don't get an increase in funding and a school asks for police officers, and we say, 'Oh, I’m sorry, we don’t have any money to give you.' And then a maniac comes and kills 20 kids, imagine how the parents would feel about that budget decision," said Horne.
Horne’s office says $103 million has been requested by districts and charters for the 2027 School Safety Program. That amount would fund 200 more officers and counselors than current levels.
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A former leader of a Northern Arizona University fraternity pleaded guilty Monday to hazing and causing a pledge’s death by making him drink excessively at an off-campus rush event. -
Our next guests this morning are out with a new investigation that gets at the heart of that question. Evan Wyloge and Katie Wilcox are with The Beam at Arizona State University’s Howard Center for Investigative Journalism. -
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