Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board discusses IDHS school-safety grant and the possibility of a second SRO
Summary
Board members discussed applying for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security secure school safety grant (district can request up to $100,000 with a dollar-for-dollar match), using awards to offset an SRO cost, and the operational challenges of providing coverage across multiple school sites; no formal decision was made on hiring a second SRO pending grant results.
The Brown County School Corporation board on June 15 discussed its application strategy for the Indiana Department of Homeland Security (IDHS) secure school safety grant and whether to seek funding for a second school resource officer (SRO).
District leadership explained the grant allows districts in the relevant size band to request as much as $100,000 but awards are discretionary and require a dollar-for-dollar local match. The administration said the district has used past awards to offset roughly half of an SRO's cost; "We have asked for salary, wages, and benefits to help offset the cost of our SRO," a presenter told the board. The district currently pays a portion of the SRO cost; administration estimated the district's share at about $35,000 a year, though the sheriff's department also provides equipment, training and vehicle support.
Board members probed logistics. Members noted the district operates multiple buildings across a broad area (described as five schools or six buildings), and that drives between some sites can be 25—30 minutes on a good day, leaving response-time gaps if only one officer is assigned. The administration said adding a second SRO would reduce response times and allow more sustained prevention and mentoring at elementary schools, but also would require the board to identify the local match before moving forward if the grant does not fund the full amount.
Some members raised concerns about the SRO model and student experience. One board member said it is important to avoid a student's first interaction with law enforcement being a disciplinary incident; administration responded that the district intentionally emphasizes relationship-building and prevention in its SRO program.
No board vote was taken at the meeting. The district will submit the IDHS application by the end of the month and return to the board with award information and recommendations about whether to proceed with a second SRO if partial or no funding is awarded.
Next steps: Staff will file the grant application; if the award is smaller than requested the administration will seek direction from the board about whether to fund a second SRO from district resources.
