In a recent government meeting, concerns were raised regarding the safety and mental health resources in Moore County Schools following a tragic shooting incident in Georgia that left four dead, including two teachers and two students. The discussion highlighted the urgent need for School Resource Officers (SROs) in local schools, as the district currently has 14 open SRO positions, with no progress in filling them over the past two and a half years.

The speaker emphasized that a middle school lacks a full-time SRO, and none of the 12 elementary schools have SROs, raising alarms about student safety in open campus environments. The speaker attributed the vacancies to the district's inability to offer competitive salaries, suggesting that financial constraints are hindering the hiring process.

Mental health resources were also a focal point, with reports indicating a significant shortage of personnel to address students' mental health needs. Currently, there are only 13 nurses available for 23 schools, further complicating the situation.

In response to these concerns, a member of the board pointed out that the school board had allocated $50,000 for promoting a debate, questioning the prioritization of funds. They asserted that the responsibility for addressing these safety and resource issues lies with the school board, not the county commissioners, and urged the speaker to direct their concerns to the appropriate body.

The meeting underscored the ongoing challenges in ensuring student safety and mental health support in Moore County Schools, prompting calls for accountability and action from the school board.