[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6219017,"mediaKeyId","3624157-f1fb08ef7815a4cf733dcf72ea8cc8af","parentId",3624157,"title","District proposes large expansion of school officers; board members press for data","audioSeconds",1086,"startMs",1517900,"endMs",2604235,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624157-f1fb08ef7815a4cf733dcf72ea8cc8af&start=1517&end=2604","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624157-f1fb08ef7815a4cf733dcf72ea8cc8af/thumbnail_1517900.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6219017/Georgia/District-proposes-large-expansion-of-school-officers-board-members-press-for-data","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219017-38229a051de599cbd8450181a433c927/orig.mp4?Expires=1770725951&Signature=hFGabwOWjZvlN5SEWYGIUjVsNcwrKzfbUbdDLZ1LoONL378ZTgC5oKudrOxDDmrN2k4DnBkAao0yNspPlcNhLksymBYLmRNxRaMx9dKE13n3dLiXRq18Be28cugZ0svk9np2764J4g4rhZq-uWnSZVCRA-LRj-~kq85GzFgYPxaoe3wTDnEf8bqPCoavQONuB0OHHeVFMrtSU4t-arBNiD03uYWTJy9BfgFI5lTRaxVT8yJn5SH3QJjP656HoWXOw4lW32-tvkJr-gng7LwbiDrz53sm2DtN~GotQ1lKpnPBU3ZEKn9Ur4F0EW4CSbmWOtJtrFUJO3xqBpUEIFk~KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-06-03T08:32:55.633Z","article","District security staff proposed increasing school security staffing substantially as part of the FY26 budget discussion, prompting questions from board members about scale, evidence and potential effects on school climate.

Security staff described a plan that would add 14 unarmed officers focused on elementary schools and three additional armed officers; later in the presentation staff said the proposal would bring the district to a total of 27 unarmed officers and 17 armed officers districtwide. “We will have a total of 27 unarmed officers and a total of 17 armed officers in our district,” a presenter said.

Board members expressed concern about the scale of the increase and asked for data supporting it. “This was very alarming to me to see that we are doubling the size of that fleet,” Board Member Linda Davis said, asking for programmatic justification and outcomes. Board Member Denson asked for statistics showing why the proposed increase is necessary and for information on social‑work staffing, noting studies that link higher officer presence with increased student arrests. “I would love to see some statistics that showed that we needed to have this large of an increase,” Denson said.

Security staff defended the proposal as a response to parent concerns and regional trends. Presenters said the proposal aims to ensure every elementary and secondary school has on‑site coverage; they noted town halls, emails from parents and similar moves in neighboring districts. Staff pointed to past incidents in which weapons were recovered at school and said student reports to administrators helped avoid worse outcomes.

Board members sought measurement and limits: requests included climate measures to monitor how students experience increased officer presence; comparative incident data; and a clear plan for staffing phasing rather than immediate full implementation. Several board members said they favor more preventative investments such as social work and mental‑health staff. Staff said the district currently employs roughly 14 social workers (including McKinney‑Vento services) and seven or eight psychologists, with some clinicians assigned districtwide and others at secondary buildings.

The security staffing proposal was presented as a budget item within the FY26 package and will be finalized if the board approves the overall budget and millage.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","CCSD Budget and Millage Rate Hearing 06/02/2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff proposed doubling unarmed school officer positions and adding armed officers to cover all schools; board members asked for incident statistics, measures of climate impact and the number of social workers to weigh the change.","taxTitle","Clarke County, School Districts, Georgia","taxId",13121,"location","Georgia","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6219022,"Board holds public hearing on FY26 budget; tentative millage rate set at 18.8 mills",3029,61910,3091365,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3624157-f1fb08ef7815a4cf733dcf72ea8cc8af&start=61&end=3091","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3624157-f1fb08ef7815a4cf733dcf72ea8cc8af/thumbnail_61910.jpg","/articles/6219022/Georgia/Board-holds-public-hearing-on-FY26-budget-tentative-millage-rate-set-at-188-mills","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6219022-88e651023b0b200c3b47fcb5181abdcb/orig.mp4?Expires=1770725951&Signature=Y71Nhwb47lDiJJ1cMZskP9OdCf0Zy5ER8OgirPP7ZaYl2VgZdQRFquI0nNuSn4gsjq-IQEl1hObIfxuPMUEq96xbl7mqZqvKTv2Zi82kmvWuUn8yUTRu7zojYHA8~Gs56t3oVrf8PpSLJcilyLU98YuTo3oKluGnWio40pJAXURPQdFcOpSE~BUoabvn9k2WvnSjNMpjVbmIFHM09-8tBB-P~elh0Mny3~SuDxMVZl11pi2PyXEv4A1BLQJV5FHPPntaj~IHaRIKgp7X5zd52hnyumAsMis0xOASiQCO9~tpBIb-XxFXRQWbYbIofSFvJ6GFWTii7-HWXAnMZEiIAw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Athens-Clarke County School District staff presented a balanced fiscal 2026 general fund budget on the first of three public hearings, and the board tentatively left the millage rate unchanged at 18.8 mills.

Finance staff told the board the district’s tax digest rose 8.66% — higher than the 6.5% the district originally budgeted — and said that with the proposed budget the district would begin and end FY26 with an estimated fund balance of $55,000,000. “Our tax digest increased, by 8.66%,” a district presenter said. The budget as presented includes planned additions and some restored items, while avoiding the use of reserves, staff said.

The budget presentation highlighted several specific additions: three certified officer positions (described as floating positions) at an estimated combined cost of about $300,000; 14 non‑certified (unarmed) officers at an estimated cost of $840,000 (the 14 are intended for elementary schools); and $1,000,000 for deferred maintenance to address pending roof and other capital repairs. The presentation also shows a proposed sustainability coordinator position to sit in district services and funding for related grant‑writing support, the presenter said.

Staff described the district’s current liquidity as roughly 2.59 months of operating reserves under the FY26 proposal, compared with a typical target of about three months. The presenter said the recommendation was “not to use reserves this year” and that the goal was to maintain the $55 million fund balance.

On property tax matters, staff summarized the millage calculation and timeline. “The millage rate for FY26 was tentatively set at 18.8 mils,” a district presenter said, calling the rate tentative until final approval at the next board meeting. The presenter stressed that part of the revenue increase comes from reassessment — not a millage increase — and explained the rollback rate mechanics used to show what millage would generate the same revenue as the prior year. The presenter noted reassessment produced a 6.46% increase and that roughly 2.2% of the digest growth represents new construction or “new growth.”

The budget timeline presented: the first hearing held tonight, a second hearing the next night, a third hearing the following Wednesday and a final approval vote scheduled for the board’s next meeting.

Board members asked several clarifying questions during the presentations on department budgets, including how the sustainability position would be used, capital needs (roofs, HVAC) covered by the deferred maintenance allocation, and how the district calculates fund balance needs. Staff said the sustainability coordinator would work with operations to pursue energy audits, analyze utility usage and coordinate sustainability efforts with academic programs. On tax collections, staff reminded the board that the tax commissioner is allowed by Georgia law to charge up to 2.5% for collection and that the district factored delinquency estimates into the FY26 revenue projections.

Procedural motions at the meeting included a motion to adopt the meeting agenda and a motion to adjourn; both were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote.

The board will reconvene for the second budget hearing tomorrow evening; no final millage decision was taken at tonight’s meeting.","At a public hearing on the fiscal 2026 general fund budget, district staff presented a balanced budget that assumes an 8.66% increase in the tax digest, adds school safety positions and a sustainability coordinator, and keeps the tentative millage rate at 18.8 mills pending final board approval.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District proposes large expansion of school officers; board members press for data

Board holds public hearing on FY26 budget; tentative millage rate set at 18.8 mills