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Paducah approves 70/30 cost split for school resource officers for 2025 school year
Summary
The Paducah Board of Commissioners authorized the mayor to sign a municipal order continuing school resource officers at Paducah Tilman and Paducah Middle School with the Paducah Public School System reimbursing 70% of costs.
The Paducah Board of Commissioners on June 24 approved a municipal order authorizing the mayor to execute a school resource officer agreement with Paducah Public Schools for the 2025 school year that establishes a 70/30 reimbursement split in which the school system reimburses 70% of the full cost of two officers.
The agreement continues officers assigned to Paducah Tilman and Paducah Middle School after a federal COPS grant that funded earlier years expired. Police leadership told commissioners the program has received positive feedback from the community and the school system.
“Every cost — a 100% cost for those two employees — is 70% on the school system, 30% for the city,” Chief Laird said when commissioners asked whether the reimbursement covers retirement and other fully loaded costs.
According to police remarks at the meeting, the original federal grant covered the first three years and the city and school system split costs 50/50 in the most recent year before the new agreement. The Paducah Public Schools have also reorganized some school-safety functions and now have their own police department for some duties, but officials said staffing remains a challenge and a continued partnership helps both organizations.
The municipal order passed on a roll-call vote, with Commissioner Henderson, Commissioner Smith, Commissioner Thomas and Mayor Pro Tem Wilson voting aye.
The agreement does not change coverage of three elementary schools, the chief said; those schools remain covered by the school system’s arrangements.
