Marion County — The Marion County School Board on June 10 approved three separate school resource officer (SRO) agreements that together will fund about $16 million in law enforcement presence at district campuses over the next three school years.

The three agreements — with the Bellevue Police Department, the Ocala Police Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office — were presented by Mr. McFadden and approved individually by the three board members present, each by a 3–0 vote. School officials said the contracts are intended to meet requirements of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act and to maintain campus safety.

Mr. McFadden told the board the Bellevue agreement would continue one SRO at Bellevue Elementary at an annualized contract total that had been $205,383.70 for the current term and that a new agreement would run from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2028. He said the Ocala Police Department agreement would provide 21 SROs and proposed a three‑year total of $5,946,781, and the Marion County Sheriff’s Office agreement would provide 44 SROs and rovers for an anticipated $10,200,000 for the 2025–28 period. “This agreement ensures we continue to meet the safety and security needs of our schools and comply with the requirements of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act,” Mr. McFadden said.

Board members discussed cost differences among providers. Doctor Lisonbee Campbell said she valued the officers’ broader role in preventing incidents but warned about rising costs, saying, “the cost is gonna start, outweighing the benefit.” Reverend Gary Cummings noted the district is “not in the banking business” and supported accepting the agreements as presented. The board confirmed the cost for the contracts will be covered through a mix of general fund and referendum dollars.

The three motions passed separately, each recorded as a 3–0 approval by the three members present. Board members and staff said the district will monitor deployment and noted some increases in SRO staffing were intended to address higher call volumes at specific schools and to add roaming coverage when assigned SROs are absent.

The board did not alter contract terms at the meeting; officials said agreements with additional municipalities (an MOU for the city of Ocala communications center and future discussions with other city partners) were forthcoming.