Funds sought for officer

A federal grant paid the officer's salary for three years.
CANFIELD -- Canfield schools will ask the city to reconsider funding for a city police officer who works with the schools.
Schools resource officer Paul Lasky's salary and benefits total more than $70,000, said school district treasurer Patti Kesner.
The city had paid for the officer with a three-year federal grant, said superintendent Dante Zambrini. It is asking the schools to pay $36,000, or half of the cost, now because the grant is expiring in December, he said.
Zambrini told the school board at its Wednesday meeting that the district cannot afford to do so.
He also said the schools lost $282,000 last year because of open enrollment and pupils' opting to use Internet or community charter schools.
Zambrini said the officer is beneficial for the city because his job is to head off issues at the schools that could become problems.
Board president Martha Zarlenga suggested asking the city to reconsider its request and continue paying for the officer.
Another option, Zambrini said, is to have the resource officer work half the time.