Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board approves consent item to accept grant funding for school safety officers after debate
Summary
After discussion about training, role limits and whether positions become permanent, the board approved a consent-calendar item to accept a grant to fund School Safety Officers (SSOs); the motion passed on roll call.
Supervisors debated a carried-over consent-calendar item: a grant application intended to fund School Safety Officers (SSOs) and potentially support SRO staffing. Staff emphasized the grant is time-limited and often sunsets, and said the positions would be advertised as grant-funded. "This is 3 years," a staff member said when describing the grant term, and reiterated that sometimes, if a position proves valuable, it may be absorbed into the budget later.
Supervisors raised questions about the difference between SSOs and SROs, certification and scope of authority. Staff noted SSOs receive training from the Department of Criminal Justice and that SSOs operate under more limited legal authority than sworn officers — for example, probable-cause search thresholds differ. One supervisor said he was "real concerned... whether we're hiring mall cops" and urged attention to qualifications and value. After discussion Supervisor Shepherd moved to approve the consent calendar; roll-call recorded Missus Knoll — No; Mister Drury — Yes; Mister Roan — Yes; Mister Shepherd — Yes; Mister Holroyd — Yes. The clerk announced the motion carried.
