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Board approves MOU to continue school resource officer at Abingdon High School
Summary
The Abingdon-Avon CUSD 276 board approved a memorandum of understanding to fund a school resource officer (SRO) with a 75/25 split and a 25% vehicle cost; board discussion emphasized relationship-building and options for funding from tort or 1¢ sales tax.
The Abingdon-Avon CUSD 276 board voted to approve a memorandum of understanding to maintain a school resource officer position at Abingdon High School. Superintendent/administrator Billy (speaker 2) explained the financial arrangement as a 75/25 split with the district covering 25% of the vehicle cost and said the district planned to pay the SRO expense out of tort funds (with 1¢ sales tax as an alternative funding option). The motion carried after roll-call voting.
Bob Schwartz, who identified himself as the SRO at Abingdon High School, described the role as relationship-focused. “I'm not here to arrest the kids. I'm here to help them, give them advice, and to work with them,” Schwartz said, noting coordinated emergency-response maps with the Knox County Sheriff's Department, deputy access cards for school buildings, updated field-training-officer walk-throughs for deputies, and active-shooter training at Abingdon and Heading schools. Board members emphasized the SRO’s value in building relationships with students and supporting school safety.
