Paulding board votes to establish its own school district police department

The Paulding County Board of Education voted unanimously to establish a Board of Education Police Department and directed the superintendent to begin implementing the new force.

Superintendent Barnett read the resolution, saying the district believes “school safety will be enhanced” by a school district police department and citing authority under OCGA 20-8-5. The resolution directs the superintendent to select an executive director of safety and security and a director of public safety and to transmit the decision to the Georgia Peace Officer Standards and Training Council (POST).

Barnett outlined the next steps: notify governmental partners immediately, designate department leadership during the June 11 work session, swear in department leadership at the June 23 board meeting, and treat July 1 as the recognized start date for the department (with the official start pending POST’s notified acceptance).

The motion to approve the resolution passed unanimously. Barnett said the district will convert existing safety and security coordinator roles into titles consistent with the new department (for example, safety and security coordinator to school resource officer) and will transmit required documentation to POST once leaders are named.

The resolution and discussion did not include a line-item budget breakdown for the staffing or operational costs specific to the police department beyond Barnett’s earlier statement that the district plans to spend roughly $6.5 million on safety and security next year and that 70% of that amount would be funded locally. The board did not amend the resolution during the meeting.

The board will present leadership title transitions at the June 11 work session and formally swear in the department leaders at the June 23 meeting. POST notification and final acceptance will determine the department’s official start date.