Board questions $50,000 canine-services contract, asks why sheriff's dogs aren't used

The Mobile County school board reviewed an agreement to contract with Jason Arendelle and Richard Bacon to provide canine search services for schools, a $50,000 contract funded from Title IV. The item appeared as action item C17.

Board members questioned why the district would pay for an external canine contractor when the sheriff's office provides canine teams and one school resource officer had a drug dog. One board member said, "I don't see a reason to pay them," and noted that an SRO in the past had a dog who could be used. Another board member raised a concern about a potential conflict if the contractor also works with the sheriff's department.

Superintendent Dr. Crenshaw and staff responded that the district had previously tried to rely on the sheriff's office but the sheriff's teams are often reassigned for other duties—"they get called away for manhunts or to go do search warrants"—so the district prefers to have a dedicated K‑9 service it can deploy regularly, including coverage for football games. Staff also clarified that the contractor company owns its canines rather than the sheriff's office providing the same dogs.

The transcript records that Jackie Benton, a dog handler previously employed in an SRO role, was no longer assigned as an SRO in the district at the time of the meeting.

The contract is listed at $50,000 coming from Title IV funds; the provided transcript excerpt does not include a recorded vote or formal approval of the contract.