Church To Pay For Police At School

ORLEANS, Mass. -- A Cape Cod pastor made a big and controversial pledge to protect some high school students.

NewsCenter 5's Jim Morelli reported Friday that the pastor is looking for some financial help from his congregation to pay for a police officer to staff a local high school.

VIDEO: Church To Pay For Police At School

"Doug called me a couple of months ago, and he asked what I would do with 25,000 extra dollars next year," Nauset Regional High School Superintendent Michael Gradone said.

The Rev. Doug Scalise, of Brewster Baptist Church, said that he was dismayed to learn that Nauset Regional High School was losing its police officer to budget cuts.

"Maybe this is a way we can serve and help the community and help about 1,000 students and their families in the school district," Scalise said.

The church is pledging to fund most of the officer's salary next year -- a donation of $25,000.

"Having a security presence there, it can only help. We didn't want to do anything that the school superintendent, for example, didn’t want to do," Scalise said.

"This is an important position and should be part of any high school's budget,"

The officer costs the district $40,000, which means school officials will still have to come up with another $15,000 to fund the position.

The superintendent is busy lining up other donations to make up the lapse. Some students said that they are relieved that the officer will be back.

"He keeps the school in shape and keeps everyone in line. Without him, it would probably be chaos at lunch and stud," student Kara Zoni said.

The church plans to raise $25,000 through its annual Christmas Fair, which takes place in November.

The superintendent said that next year, they will attempt to fund the position through a Proposition 2.