Board approves 2025–26 SRO contract with ACCGov after questions about cost and contribution

The Clarke County School District board voted 8‑1 to approve the district’s 2025–26 school resource officer contract with ACCGov.

At the June meeting board members asked why the county commission’s apparent contribution differed from earlier public discussion and whether ACCGov was still subsidizing SRO personnel and equipment. Board member Tim Denson said he had seen an agenda item from the county commission that suggested a smaller county contribution and asked why the district’s invoice now reflected a higher amount.

Attorney Pruitt and district staff said ACCGov continues to provide a substantial subsidy beyond the dollar invoiced to the district. Pruitt said ACCGov’s internal accounting showed roughly "600 and something thousand dollars in just direct personnel costs" for providing SROs in the community; he also noted the county supplies vehicles, uniforms and equipment that are not captured in an annual invoice. The contract the board approved uses a flat annual invoice amount that the administration said reflects recent practice rather than a quarterly reimbursement clause previously written into older contracts. The contract amount discussed in board dialogue was described in session as "$470,000 in the contract."

Board members debated parity and the distribution of SROs across schools and whether increases in the district’s share of the cost should be reexamined. Denson said he was concerned about the district absorbing additional expense without a clear explanation of the county’s prior vote. Other board members said the SRO program was an essential safety measure and urged timely approval so SRO staffing could proceed.

The board approved the contract with eight votes in favor and one opposed. Administration said the approved contract does not cover any proposed expansion of SROs; hiring additional district‑employed officers would be a separate budget and personnel decision.