Franklin County extends school resource officer contracts for West Franklin and Central Heights

The Franklin County Commission on Sept. 3 approved extensions to two school resource officer (SRO) contracts, continuing one deputy at West Franklin and a matching agreement with Central Heights School District.

County staff told commissioners the school district pays the full salary and benefits for each SRO. “The school district pays for the salary and benefits for one deputy,” county staff said during the meeting, adding that West Franklin’s bill for the year is $85,296, up from $74,004.22 the previous year — an increase of roughly $11,000. The district plans to make quarterly payments to the county.

The contracts keep existing terms in place; county staff said conditions did not change. Central Heights’ contract contains the same amounts and conditions and has already been signed by the district; the county’s action was to accept it on the county side.

Commissioners discussed whether grants continue to cover initial SRO funding. County staff said the districts initially received grants but that school boards decide whether to continue the positions; the county does not control whether districts secure grant funding.

Votes at the meeting were recorded by roll call. Both the West Franklin and Central Heights contract extensions were approved by the commission (recorded votes: Commissioner Saldemeyer — yes; Commissioner Wehmeyer — yes; Vice Chair Meador — yes; Commissioner Dickinson — yes; Chair Harris — yes).

The county presentation said the West Franklin extension will appear on the school board’s next agenda. The county will bill quarterly and continue the current shared-arrangement practices used for other intergovernmental SRO agreements.

The commission took no additional changes to the SRO program during the meeting.