Matthews County School Board allocates $89,047 to fund two school resource officers

The Matthews County School Board voted Tuesday to approve a resolution allocating $89,047 to Matthews County to fund two school resource officer (SRO) positions, a move board leaders framed as a response to recent safety concerns and an opportunity to leverage a state grant.Availability of funds and next steps Board member Mr. Morgan moved to adopt the resolution; Mrs. Hodges seconded. After discussion about grant matching, equipment costs and how SRO responsibilities will be coordinated with the sheriff’s office, the board called for the voice vote and the motion passed.

Why it matters Board and community speakers said the action is meant to strengthen emergency preparedness and shore up gaps exposed by an Oct. 30 incident at Matthews High School, when parents and students told the board they witnessed law enforcement with drawn weapons and described inconsistent lockdown communications.

What the resolution does The adopted resolution commits $89,047 from the school division toward two SRO positions and directs the superintendent to transmit the resolution to the Matthews County Board of Supervisors and to collaborate with the sheriff’s office and county administration on implementation. The superintendent told the board the division could reallocate line items to make the contribution within FY26 projections.

Public safety context and reactions Several parents recounted October events during public comment. Charles Ware said the family left the parking lot while officers had weapons drawn and told the board: “If school is on lockdown, keep the kids in the school.” William Ware, a student, told the board he felt unsafe after the incident and said it left him “with a heightened sense of awareness.”

Sheriff April Edwards, representing the Matthews County Sheriff’s Office, told the board the SRO grant was awarded for two positions — one for the Thomas Hunter Elementary campus and one for the high school campus — but noted a cash‑match requirement and said the Board of Supervisors would consider the county’s role in the next days. “If we can make this happen, I think you all deserve the credit,” she said.

Implementation questions Board members probed who will control equipment, how much of an SRO’s salary will be covered by the allocation and whether an SRO funded in part by the schools could be reassigned. The superintendent said the school division and sheriff’s office are planning a model that reflects a shared responsibility and that further budget and procurement details will follow; the resolution specifically directs interagency collaboration to address those items.

Next steps The superintendent will transmit the resolution to the county Board of Supervisors and coordinate with the sheriff’s office on hiring, equipment and scheduling. The sheriff noted the grant is year‑to‑year and that the division may need to plan a recurring budget line item if the positions are to be sustained beyond initial grant awards.

Outcome Motion adopted; resolution passed. The board will report back as the county and sheriff's office finalize staffing and equipment arrangements.