JAY – Selectmen tabled action Monday on a proposal to apply for a $125,000 grant to hire a school resource officer. The board requested a joint meeting with the school board and to hold a public hearing on the proposal May 10.

Concerns included having an officer with a gun in the school, filling a new position when other positions were cut in the school budget, making a four-year commitment, and tax reform proposals at the state level.

School Superintendent Robert Wall said the proposal is in the preliminary stages. He will present the proposal Thursday, May 6, to the school committee.

Deadline for the grant application is May 17.

Applying for a Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Police Services in School grant would mean a four-year commitment with the schools responsible for the last year as well as the difference between the grant and the officer’s salary and benefits the third year.

The three-year total cost, if single health insurance coverage is chosen, is $138,984. The school system would be responsible for the remaining $13,984 plus $50,145 for the fourth year or a total of $64,129.

If the police officer chose family coverage, the three-year total would be $159,289. The school department would be responsible for $34,289 plus $58,311 for the fourth year, a total of $92,600.

Though the resource officer would work for the schools, he or she would be an employee of the town, Wall said.

It would mean a new position for the police department.

The officer would report to the police chief and building principals.

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