Schools should be among the safest places in the world for kids. They are supposed to be a harbor for learning, interacting with other kids peacefully and respecting teachers.

Sometimes, though, things happen that threaten that safety. Some are along the lines of minor skirmishes between kids, which probably will happen in or out of schools.

Other times situations can take a violent turn, with harm directed from students either toward themselves or other students.

That’s why it’s important to take a proactive approach, and why we’re glad to see Negaunee Public Schools will get a police officer to act as a resource officer within the school district.

Last week the Negaunee City Council approved an intergovernmental agreement with NPS and the Negaunee Police Department to establish the position.

The new resource officer will provide safety and counseling services to administrators, teachers, students and parents.

The officer also will conduct after-school programs and help prepare for emergency plans and other situations that might arise.

The agreement says the hope is that the resource officer will be “beneficial by building respect for law enforcement and preventing present and future crimes.”

Counseling is necessary to help prevent unwanted circumstances, such as when a student is in distress and believes there is nowhere to turn. Of course, it’s important that adults have access to counseling as well, and it’s good to see that school staff and parents will be included. An adult can make the difference between stopping a problem before it gets worse.

Even with counseling, though, bad situations can happen, and it’s imperative for school districts to have plans in place to deal with them.

We applaud the decision of school and city officials to take a proactive stance and create the resource officer position, which we believe will go a long way into keeping kids and adults safe.

–The Mining Journal, Marquette