Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheriff pitches shared student-resource officer; board weighs cost and scheduling
Summary
Sheriff Devon Oren proposed sharing a student-resource officer (SRO) with a neighboring district on a part-time schedule, outlining relationship-building and a school-year prorated cost estimate of roughly $48,009.15 (half-share about $24,457) and urging the board to consider grant or county support to offset costs.
Sheriff Devon Oren told the A-C Central school board that an SRO primarily should build relationships with students and be trained for school work rather than simply enforcing discipline. "I think every school should have a policeman there, at least sometimes," Oren said, explaining that the position helps prevent or limit harm and gives students someone they trust to talk to.
Oren suggested a cost-sharing arrangement with a nearby district (Virginia) — a split schedule such as 0.5 of a day here and 0.5 there — and offered a rough proration of county costs for a deputy to the school year. He described the county total cost for a deputy at about $133,000 and computed a school-year share at roughly $48,009.15; a 50/50 split would make the district’s share about $24,457. Board members asked about training, grant options, and whether the county could cover part of the cost; Oren said specialized SRO training is required and recommended one consistent person so students can build trust.
The board did not take immediate action on funding; several members supported pursuing the idea, and the chair asked staff to follow up on potential grants or county contributions and on scheduling details if the district pursues a part-time SRO arrangement.
