Commission Approves School Resource Deputy Contracts

The Cass County Commission approved contracts for school resource deputies for the 2026-27 school year during its April 6 meeting.

The agreements cover the Central Cass, Kindred, Maple Valley, Mapleton and Northern Cass school districts.

The contracts continue a cost-sharing arrangement between the school districts and Cass County. School districts will pay 75% of the cost, while the county will cover the remaining 25% of the $105,654 total cost per deputy, which includes salary and benefits.

Recent changes to the county's pay scale and cost-of-living adjustments have raised sustainability concerns among school districts. A compressed 12-step deputy pay system, combined with cost-of-living adjustments, results in annual contract increases of 5%-6%, exceeding the typical 3% cap on teacher pay and making it difficult for some districts to keep up.

To address these concerns, the approved contracts use a lower patrol deputy step within the pay scale. This adjustment is intended to reduce the financial burden on school districts and better align with typical annual school budget increases.

"We recognize the financial pressures our school districts are facing, and this adjustment helps balance those concerns while maintaining a strong commitment to school safety," said Commission Chair Tony Grindberg. "These partnerships ensure we can continue providing a visible law enforcement presence in our schools and communities."

Maintaining school resource deputies is considered critical for public safety, strategic resource deployment and community coverage, particularly in rural areas with longer response times.

"Having deputies in each of those schools benefits not only the schools but also the communities they serve, with school safety being the No. 1 priority," said Sheriff Jesse Jahner. "In addition, it strengthens our overall response across the county, allowing other deputies to remain visible and responsive in areas that need coverage."

The contracts will now be sent to the participating school districts for final approval for the 2026-27 school year.