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SROs: officer reports training and threat-assessment changes; board approves $100,000 contribution to seven-officer proposal
Summary
School resource officer Jake Campbell briefed the board on active-shooter and Narcan training, threat-assessment triage changes and community engagement; board approved a $100,000 commitment toward a county plan to staff seven SROs, with specifics on assignments and pro rata billing described at the meeting.
School Resource Officer Jake Campbell told the board the law-enforcement side has focused on training and reducing punitive responses, citing two legal actions taken this year (down from prior years), active-shooter drills, Narcan training for nurses and administrators, and a newly implemented triage system for threat assessments.
Campbell said local deputies and SROs have been more engaged in school events and cited specific examples of cooperation with deputies and coaches at several schools. He noted that removing cell phones from classrooms has coincided with a drop in fights and other incidents, which he characterized as a positive change.
On funding, staff described a county proposal under which Accomack County Public Schools would pay roughly $103,000–$104,000 toward the total cost of seven SROs. The division would directly fund the equivalent of roughly 1.5 full-time SRO FTEs under the county’s pro rata approach; meeting comments estimated a per-SRO cost of about $69,000 when a 12-month position is converted to a 10-month school-year equivalent. The proposal in discussion would place three SROs at the three high schools (including the Shinkategg SRO) and four rovers serving middle and elementary schools (Tangier excepted). One SRO would be managed by the Shinkategg Police Department and the other six by the sheriff’s office; the county would bill the school division on a pro rata basis tied to staffing levels.
The board voted to commit $100,000 toward the county SRO proposal; the motion carried and was recorded as approved during the meeting. Board members discussed coverage, training shortfalls when officers are out ill, and the need for additional trained substitutes for SRO duties.
Why this matters: The SRO funding commitment funds law-enforcement presence in schools and affects how safety coverage is provided across the division. The briefing also outlined operational changes — threat-assessment triage and Naloxone training — aimed at reducing unnecessary punitive measures and improving safety responses.
Follow-up: Finance staff will coordinate the intergovernmental billing arrangement with the county and a memorandum of understanding was discussed as the likely vehicle for the cost-sharing arrangement. Board members asked staff to provide further details about staffing, substitution plans for officer absences and the training pipeline for school coverage.
