PHOENIX — Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne plans to request $180 million dollars from the state to further fund the school safety program.

The program, which places officers and counselors in schools, is sorely needed as youth violence rises, Horne said during a Thursday press conference.

He also expects the demand for officers to increase in response to violent incidents, such as the fatal August stabbing at Maryvale High School that left a 16-year-old boy dead.

“Every school that’s asked for a police officer has gotten one,” Horne said. “We don’t want in the future (to) ever have to deny a police officer to a school and then have a catastrophe happen because there was not enough money to pay for that police officer.”

Details about the funding request for officer

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