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Officials approve full-time police in 3 Springfield schools

SPRINGFIELD - The Springfield School Board has approved the full-time staffing of police officers at the city's three public high schools.

Board members voted unanimously Monday. It will cost more than $115,000 to provide policing at the schools throughout the rest of the school year.

Superintendent Jennifer Gill tells The State Journal-Register that the city is helping the school district with the cost. She says the officers will likely start working full time next week.

The district had previously hired off-duty officers at $25 per hour before Gill arrived this school year. But the effort to save money often caused spotty police patrolling at the school.

A student brought a loaded handgun into Lanphier High School earlier this school year when there wasn't a police officer on duty.

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