Oconee County board approves SRO memorandum of understanding, updates board officer policy and opens 2026-27 calendar for public comment

The Oconee County Board of Education unanimously approved a memorandum of understanding with the Oconee County Sheriff''s Office on Dec. 9 that sets out roles, working hours and staffing expectations for school resource officers (SROs).

Superintendent D. Brandt Branch told the board the draft MOU had been revised with input from the sheriff''s office and legal counsel, and he recommended approval. "We would recommend that the board approve the SRO MOU as presented," Branch said.

Human Resources representative Ryan Cofer summarized edits the district and sheriff negotiated, including adding the Oconee County Board of Commissioners to the agreement, changing references from "school system" to "school district," and specifying SRO working hours to align with sheriff''s office schedules. Cofer said the addendum clarifies staffing and costs and notes that 12 deputies are being requested for FY26 "but that the sheriff's office and board of commission will provide them as they become available." He told the board the financial terms remain to be finalized by the sheriff and commissioners.

The board also discussed district research into alternate models, including school-based police forces. Dr. Kevin Yancey, who presented earlier on options the district had examined, said some Georgia systems employ their own certified police force and that establishing such forces would require a resolution tied to OCGA 20-8-5, a needs assessment, staff hiring, equipment and training steps, and interaction with the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council and the GBI for agency setup.

Board members who spoke at the meeting emphasized partnership with the sheriff and county commissioners. "A true partnership, in addition to sharing responsibilities, is a shared responsibility for the financial burdens of this operation as well," Board member Peter Burgess said, noting the sheriff''s staffing is funded by the Board of Commissioners.

In related business, the board voted unanimously to remove board policy BBA from the table and place the updated policy into action. Branch told the board the revised BBA would elect board officers "by majority vote at the regular January board meeting" and added language recommended by legal staff; the change responds to the passage of House Bill 1496 and local election results requiring an update to the district policy.

The board also voted 5-0 to place the 2026-27 draft calendar on the table for one month of community input, following human resources staff's recommendation to solicit public feedback on a calendar that includes a proposed week-long fall break.

All votes on action items at the meeting were recorded as unanimous (5-0). After the approvals the board adjourned to executive session to discuss personnel matters.

The SRO MOU approved by the board sets hours for deputies on campus (elementary schools: on campus by 6:45 a.m. until 3:15 p.m.; secondary schools: on campus by 7:30 a.m. until 4 p.m.) and establishes an 85-hour work standard over a two-week period to align with other sheriff''s office deputies. The agreement removes a single named training provider in favor of "an approved school resource officer training program" to allow multiple approved options, the presentation said.

Next steps described at the meeting include forwarding the executed MOU to the Board of Commissioners and the sheriff's office for their official approvals and finalizing financial arrangements once the commissioners and sheriff determine staffing availability and per-day compensation.