Randolph County approves two additional elementary school resource officers funded partly by grant and reimbursements

The Randolph County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 8 approved adding two deputy sheriff school resource officer (SRO) positions to provide focused coverage at county elementary schools.

Chief Deputy Steve Nunn presented the request on behalf of the sheriff’s office, saying the two positions will allow the department to deliver more focused coverage across the county’s 12 elementary schools. Nunn said the estimated cost for the two positions for the current budget year (an eight-month period, Oct. 2025–May 2026) is $116,494 and that the school system would reimburse the county for 10 of 12 months, which the presentation listed as $145,616.

Superintendent Dr. Gainey described how the staffing fits with other coverage plans and grant funding. He said Randolph County had secured a North Carolina Stronger Connections federal grant that will help pay for two additional SROs and that the sheriff’s office and Archdale Police Department are coordinating coverage for schools in the Archdale-Trinity zone. “These two officers will join three SROs that are covering currently the Eastern, the Southwest, and Randleman zone,” Gainey said, and the combined plan will give five SROs covering 12 elementary schools.

Commissioners discussed the timetable and coverage details; the board noted the county is keeping existing middle- and high-school SROs in place and that the new deputies will not reduce current coverage. One commissioner said the county’s pursuit of grant funding made the expansion feasible.

A motion to approve the two SRO positions and an associated budget amendment carried by voice vote (ayes recorded; no roll-call tally).