Oconee County boards approve memorandum to place school resource officers in all 12 schools

Oconee County commissioners and the Oconee County Board of Education on Jan. 29 approved a memorandum of understanding that creates a school resource officer (SRO) program assigning deputies to all 12 county schools and authorizes the budget changes needed to begin staffing the program.

The agreement, approved unanimously by both governing bodies, establishes a SRO unit composed of up to 16 deputies — 12 assigned to individual schools plus four supervisory/command staff — and runs through Feb. 2026 with automatic annual renewals unless one party gives 30 days’ written notice. Sheriff Hale said he could begin recruiting immediately after the vote but cautioned that recruiting law-enforcement personnel will take time.

Why it matters: The MOU formalizes roles, duties and a cost-sharing arrangement meant to place consistent law-enforcement presence in each school while protecting the schools’ educational mission. The Board of Education will cover 90% of program costs and the Board of Commissioners 10%, under the terms presented to both bodies.

The agreement…