Photo: CBS 12
Martin County deputies will remain in schools.
After days of negotiations, the School District and the Martin County Sheriff's Office have decided on a new contract. The current contract which expires in June has the sheriff's office covering more than half of the $7.85 million cost for school resource officers.
That price is expected to rise to $8.4 million in the new contract.
The school board has agreed to increase the district's paid cost to about $5 million, meaning the sheriff's office will pay about $3 million.
Things got contentious before a deal was made. In a post on Facebook last week, Sheriff John Budensiek warned parents that the district was considering cheaper non-law enforcement alternatives.
The new agreement will last for three years.