According to USA Today, Florida school districts share $64.4 million from a pool known as Safe Schools. 80% of that money goes to pay school resource officers.
Districts 10 years ago divvied up a Safe Schools pot of about $75.6 million, a plateau that hasn't been seen, or even approached, since.
Starting in 2007, the funding was cut little by little although enrollment grew by more that 300,000 students.
The Department of Education has asked the legislators in the dick shaped building pictured above to increase funding.
Many schools cut from two officers down to one. Additionally, more than half the districts had too little money to pay for bully-prevention programs.
This year, the Senate is recommending a whopping budget increase, including an extra $13.7 million for Safe Schools. That would boost each district's base Safe Schools allocation from $62,660 to $250,000.
The House, however, is recommending an all-too-familiar allocation for Safe Schools: $64.4 million.
www.usatoday.com/...