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Rockcastle board praises partners as district expands SRO coverage; state aid covers part of cost
Summary
The board discussed increased SRO coverage with Mount Vernon city partners and approved operations; district reported state support of $20,000 per SRO this year, while the city provides equipment and fringe benefits and the district pays salary.
The Rockcastle County Schools board reviewed and approved an expansion of School Resource Officer coverage after partners from Mount Vernon and the sheriff's office assisted the district during a recent incident.
Speaker 2 told the board the district has hired officers and is coordinating with Mount Vernon and other partners. “We hired Jeff Parker; Mount Vernon City hired Jeff Parker. He started Monday,” the speaker said, and noted Mike King would begin Monday at the middle school. A fifth candidate is under consideration.
Funding and cost-sharing: The district described a Memorandum of Understanding that allocates state aid and local responsibilities. “We get $20,000 this year per SRO,” Speaker 2 said, explaining that the state contribution will cover roughly half of the per-officer cost; under the agreement, the city covers equipment and fringe benefits while the district pays salary. Speaker 2 added the per-day rate in the MOU was adjusted to better reflect calendar realities.
Board reaction and vote: Board members repeatedly thanked local law enforcement partners — city police, sheriff's office and state police — for assistance during a recent two-week period of intense demand. The board approved the operations item by voice vote.
What it means: The arrangement increases in-school coverage while relying on a mix of state funds, local Safe Schools funds and municipal support for equipment and benefits. The board placed the item under operations and recorded a motion and unanimous voice approval.
Next steps: District staff will continue coordination with the city for staffing and MOU implementation; the board did not request additional immediate action.
