HOUGHTON — Houghton-Portage Township Schools joined other schools around the state Monday in hiring a school resource officer.

The district board formally approved partnering with Houghton to bring a school resource officer into the district starting this fall.

Earlier this month, Houghton Police Chief John Donnelly said officer Kirk Mills had started training for the position.

Houghton is one of 195 Michigan districts getting a three-year state grant, which covers half the cost of the officer. Houghton received $161,250 through the program.

“We’re committing to three years at least,” Superintendent Anders Hill said. “Many schools around the state got the same grant, so we’re hoping the state will continue to help us fund this.”

In addition to school security, the officer will help put on educational programs.

Locally, Lake Linden-Hubbell, L’Anse and Hancock also received the grants. Lake Linden’s officer, former village police chief Tom Rosemurgy, started earlier this year.

In other action, the district:

• Heard a presentation from Houghton High School’s Business Professionals of America (BPA) team. The team won four awards at the state leadership conference in Grand Rapids, qualifying them for the national competition in Anaheim next month.

• Approved the district’s five-year strategic plan after a presentation by Tim Hall, a facilitator with the Michigan Association of School Boards.

The process included community and student forums and a survey with 536 respondents. A committee of 24 community members, parents/guardians and staff held an all-day retreat and additional meetings.

Goal areas for the next five years are academics/programs, learning environment and culture, communication and community engagement, personnel and leadership, and operations.

The plan laid out a number of objectives within each goal, including adding a mentoring program at the high school, a regular district mailing for stakeholders, and adding a plan to increase STEM opportunities at the elementary school.

Hall said the district has positive momentum in academic growth, high-quality instruction and positive opportunities for students.

“Unless I see a certain level of pride and commitment and an excitement about the district, I don’t make that comment,” he said. “But with your board, I certainly did.”

• Approved up to $70,000 for the purchase of a 10-passenger all-wheel drive minivan. The current van is at least 12 years old and has about 180,000 miles on it, Hill said. The van will be used for food delivery as well as transporting smaller student groups such as robotics and golf. Half the money comes from the general fund; the rest comes from the food service fund.

• Accepted a bid from Merit to provide fiber network to Houghton Elementary School for $41,750.

• Approved the purchase of Thrun policy manuals, guidelines and handbooks. The district had previously used Neola for policy service, such as recommending updates to ensure district policies comply with current state law.