VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) More than 50 people attended a school safety forum in Valley City on August 28th.

Several law enforcement agencies, teachers, parents and District 24 legislators attended the meeting to provide input on what everyone is doing to make schools safer.

Valley City School Superintendent Josh Johnson said the district hired a School Resource officer and students, parents and staff members have reacted positively to the presents of officer Sean Hagen.

But some rural school district can’t afford to hire a school resource officer. Barnes County Sheriff Randy McClaflin and one of his deputies Pat Sand said there are taking measures to increase police presence in these schools.

N.D. Highway Patrol Captain Bryan Niewind talked about the steps troopers are taking to keep rural school safer.

Valley City Municipal Judge Thomas Goven believes tougher security measures should be appropriated in the future to keep everyone safer in schools and in courtrooms too.

North Dakota United President Nick Achuleta said a majority of the teachers surveyed in the state don’t believe it’s a good idea to arm teachers in the classroom. He said teachers believe increasing security in the schools to keep students and teacher safer is the right direction.

The forum was one of six being held across the state, sponsored by North Dakota Department of Public Instruction and other educational entities throughout the state.

North Dakota Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Kirsten Baesler was not present at the meeting in Valley City on August 28th but other officials from the department were there to record the input presented at the meeting in Valley City.