The Chandler City Council has approved agreements to place school resource officers at all public high schools and middle schools within city limits through June 2026.

The agreements will fund a total of 12 officer positions across Chandler Unified, Kyrene and Mesa Public school districts.

They are all sworn members of the Chandler Police Department.

School safety grants from the Arizona Department of Education will cover nearly all personnel costs. Any other costs will be divided equally between the city and school districts.

More than 300 schools received grants for officers from ADE, but many have struggled to fill those positions due to an officer shortage.

The department's school safety task force recently asked for a legislative change to make it easier for retired police officers to fill positions at schools.