SOUTH CHARLESTON -- South Charleston High School will have a police officer on the premises when classes start next month.

City Council members authorized Mayor Frank Mullens to enter into an agreement with the state Division of Criminal Justice and use grant money to pay for a police officer, known as a Prevention Resource Officer when he or she works in the school system.

South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart said will be on his police force, but will work full-time to maintain safety throughout the school as if it is its own little town.

Rinehart said the officer will do routine safety checks of school property, including parking lots, and will teach several classes on everything from personal safety to leadership.

"You'd be surprised of the volume of calls we get from the high school," Rinehart told council during a meeting Thursday.

"If a critical incident occurs, we'll have someone right there who can call for assistance if necessary," he said.

Rinehart said the officer will continue to work for the city during summer and spring break, when students aren't in class. 

The chief said the state Division of Criminal Justice approved a $27,000 grant to the city to pay the officer's annual salary. He said that's close to the typical starting salary for a member of the force, with benefits included.

Mullens said several other local high schools already have police officers working on site. He said he's heard success stories from Saint Albans High School over the past couple of years, as well as Herbert Hover and Winfield high schools. The mayor said he knows several other schools are also working to get money to pay for such a program.

"Having a police officer on site in definitely a good thing," Mullens said.

The officer will establish a sense of security and a good rapport with the kids, he said.

In other business, council approved a $41,042 bid from Sage Software for new accounting software and approved up to $250,000 for West Virginia Paving to repave all of the city's roads. That expenditure already has been factored into the city's budget, officials said.

SOUTH CHARLESTON -- South Charleston High School will have a police officer on the premises when classes start next month.

City Council members authorized Mayor Frank Mullens to enter into an agreement with the state Division of Criminal Justice and use grant money to pay for a police officer, known as a Prevention Resource Officer when he or she works in the school system.

South Charleston Police Chief Brad Rinehart said will be on his police force, but will work full-time to maintain safety throughout the school as if it is its own little town.

Rinehart said the officer will do routine safety checks of school property, including parking lots, and will teach several classes on everything from personal safety to leadership.

"You'd be surprised of the volume of calls we get from the high school," Rinehart told council during a meeting Thursday.

"If a critical incident occurs, we'll have someone right there who can call for assistance if necessary," he said.

Rinehart said the officer will continue to work for the city during summer and spring break, when students aren't in class. 

The chief said the state Division of Criminal Justice approved a $27,000 grant to the city to pay the officer's annual salary. He said that's close to the typical starting salary for a member of the force, with benefits included.

Mullens said several other local high schools already have police officers working on site. He said he's heard success stories from Saint Albans High School over the past couple of years, as well as Herbert Hover and Winfield high schools. The mayor said he knows several other schools are also working to get money to pay for such a program.

"Having a police officer on site in definitely a good thing," Mullens said.

The officer will establish a sense of security and a good rapport with the kids, he said.

In other business, council approved a $41,042 bid from Sage Software for new accounting software and approved up to $250,000 for West Virginia Paving to repave all of the city's roads. That expenditure already has been factored into the city's budget, officials said.