Mathews County accepts DCJS grant to fund two school resource officers

Mathews County will accept a Department of Criminal Justice Services grant to fund two school resource officers in the public schools, the board agreed on Nov. 20.

Clerk read Resolution 25-30, which stated the award includes $122,588 for personnel and $25,000 for supplies; the grant requires a cash match of $85,960 for salaries and additional matches for equipment and radio gear. Mathews County Public Schools agreed to provide the salary match from a fiscal-year 2026 transfer; the county will fund equipment with opioid funds and fund balance as described in the resolution. The sheriff’s office will provide an $8,000 in-kind radio-equipment match.

A board member asked whether opioid funds were an allowable source; the county attorney and staff confirmed they can be used for this purpose. After a motion and second, the board approved the resolution by voice vote with no recorded opposition.

The county administrator was authorized to accept the grant, transfer the required funds, and withhold the specified amount from the transfer to schools to meet the cash-match requirement. The motion preserves county and school commitments to sustain the school resource officers should future grant funding be awarded.