Five schools in the Maricopa Unified School District will continue to have school resource officers assigned to their campuses after the Maricopa City Council unanimously approved Tuesday a memorandum of understanding.

Police officers from the Maricopa Police Department will work 40 hours a week in the School Safety Program, and the Maricopa Unified School District will use state Department of Education grant dollars to fund those positions.

The schools include Alma Farrell Innovation Academy, Desert Sunrise High School, Desert Winds Middle School, Maricopa High School and Maricopa Wells Middle School.

The officers will perform law enforcement duties, provide law-related education and mentor students, according to the city.

Councilmember AnnaMarie Knorr said the program won’t take away from officers patrolling the city or working specific beats.

“I just think it’s a great opportunity for us to work together to ensure the safety of our students and our community,” she said.

The total cost that the district will pay the city is $577,778, according to the intergovernmental agreement. The agreement is effective through June 30, 2029.