Board discusses goal of one officer per campus; tabled a personnel item and backfilled two officer vacancies

Sherman ISD board members discussed district plans to staff school resource officers (SROs) and approved tabling a personnel item amid questions about staffing and funding.

Police Chief Heath Wester introduced two new officers earlier in the meeting, asking Officer Pena and Officer Slater to step forward for a ceremonial swearing-in. Later in the consent-agenda discussion trustees asked about the district’s longer-term plan for SRO staffing during consideration of a "good cause" personnel exemption and related staffing resolutions.

Chief Wester and district administrators said the district’s goal remains to add one officer per campus, with administrators previously discussing adding roughly one officer per year until every campus has a dedicated officer. During board Q&A the district estimated it needs four additional officers to reach a one-per-campus staffing level. Chief Wester said recent legislative increases for safety and security did not provide enough additional funding to add an officer this year, and that the district is continuing to evaluate resource availability after September funding releases.

On the consent agenda trustees separately pulled item 10.12 for separate consideration and then voted to table it. Trustee motion to table 10.12 passed on a voice vote. District staff said the two officers sworn in at the start of the meeting were backfills for positions vacated earlier in the summer and restored the department to nine officers.

Why it matters: Dedicated campus officers are a widely used safety strategy and have budget and hiring implications; the board sought clarity on staffing goals, timeline and how legislative funding changes affect hiring.

Next steps: Administration said it would continue to monitor funding and pursue adding officers when resources permit; the board requested updates on staffing and the status of the tabled item at a future meeting.