by K. G. Beavers, Messenger Staff Writer.
Members of the Sewanee community, including local educators, met with elected officials and members of area law enforcement agencies at the Sewanee Elementary School on Jan. 22 to discuss the proposal of placing school resource officers (SROs) in all county schools, including SES.
Currently there are four SROs: one is assigned to both middle schools, two are assigned to Franklin County High School and one is assigned to Huntland.
“Placing eight additional SROs in the schools would cost approximately $350,000 next year,” said school board member Chris McDonough.
“As elected officials, we are trying to make decisions as best we can. Putting armed guards in the schools and considering the associated costs is a big decision to make,” said McDonough. “We are dedicated to school safety and want to make sure we have safe places for our children.”
On Jan. 14, the school board approved a resolution to move $170,000 from its fund balance to pay for the SRO program for the remainder of this school year. Budget amendments have to be approved by the county commission.
“The county does not have the ability by law to raise funds in February,” said director of schools Rebecca Sharber. “We had some funds in the fund balance to use for this program. If the county commission does not commit to funding the program next year in its Jan. 25 meeting, we are not going to spend the $170,000. We are not cutting education spending,” said Sharber.
“Secure facilities is the school board responsibility, and we are gathering that information and assessing ways to keep the schools safer,” said Sharber.
On Jan. 15, the county commission tabled its general county budget amendment vote to fund the SRO program next year in order to have more time to discuss this issue. The vote on this budget amendment is scheduled for 7 p.m., Friday, Jan. 25, on the third floor of the courthouse in Winchester.
“Safety and security is on everyone’s mind right now,” said Sewanee Police Chief Marie Eldridge.
“We can’t pretend that a tragedy is never going to happen here. I support SROs in the school system. It is a deterrent, not a guarantee that nothing bad will happen,” said Eldridge.
Franklin County Sheriff Tim Fuller said, “Having this SRO program is a first step to increase safety in Franklin County schools.
“The next step is addressing mental health. Having social workers, law enforcement and educators working together to identify and address mental health issues is the third step,” said Fuller. “If this proposal is approved or not by the county commission on Jan. 25, we are still going to make some changes in school safety and security. Doing nothing is not an option,” he said. “This needs to be a progressive first step. We have set a goal and stated the amount of money needed to accomplish that goal.”
County Commissioner Johnny Hughes said, “Commissioner Sherwood Ebey and I take school security very seriously. This issue was suddenly handed to us and if the commission hadn’t voted to table it at our Jan. 15 meeting, it probably never would have passed. I would rather wait 10 days, hear from concerned citizens and get it right, rather than rush into something,” he said.
“If this issue had come up a few years ago, I would not have considered voting for it,” said Hughes. “I would hate to live in a world where evil wins. But this is not the same school climate as when I attended SES.”
Both commissioners agreed that “It is your money, and we want to know how people feel about this proposal.”
Some state lawmakers are proposing legislation to allow armed teachers in public schools.
“I am not comfortable being armed,” said SES fourth-grade teacher Rachel Reavis. “We do what we need to do to keep the children safe. It makes much more sense that a trained SRO be in the school rather than having a double role for the teachers,” said Reavis.
“If the SRO program saves one child and prevents one horrible event, it is worth it,” said Reavis.
People with concerns on the SRO proposal are encouraged to contact their elected county officials.
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