The Knox County Board voted 8-7 to approve a request from the Williamsfield CUSD #210 for a partnership with the Sheriff’s Office to hire a full-time school resource officer in the district.
District Four Board Member Josh Kramer, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, presented the proposal to the board Wednesday night.
The school district and the county would share the costs of the hiring of the officer. The three-year agreement would see the school district paying for 75 percent of the salary of the officer and in the first year covering 25 percent of the patrol vehicle purchasing and 25 percent of the vehicle’s maintenance.
The officer would work in the school district when school was in session throughout the school year. During breaks in the school year, the resource officer would go back to the county as a regular deputy.
Concerns were raised by dissenters that the hiring was coming too close to budget conversations, as the county was preparing to begin the budgetary process for the next fiscal year. Greg “Chops” Bacon, District Two, supported the idea of a school resource officer, saying that they needed to be in all the schools, but thought the timing was wrong.
“I would just rather wait till next year until I could see where the money is going to come from. Right now — all departments, we’re going to be hurting for money sooner or later and I just don’t want to see us adding any more to it right now.”
Other concerns were raised that other school districts would make similar requests and that it would create an obligation for the county to act on every request made.
The final concern raised by dissenters was regarding research on negative outcomes of students in schools that had an SRO compared with schools that did not.
Board member Todd Olinger, District Four, is the school resource officer for CUSD #205. He supported the proposal, telling the board “You can’t put a price tag on safety.”
In a follow-up interview with WGIL, Board Chair Jared Hawkinson expressed his disappointment that the item became as controversial as it was. “I’m glad that it passed. It’s a win-win situation for everybody involved. For at least the county, it’s a small token to ensure the safety of all the occupants of the building — the teachers, the students, and the visitors, are the number one priority.”
As far as budget concerns, Hawkinson tells WGIL, “We spend a lot of money on a lot of things. When it comes to the protection and the safety of the occupants [in the school] we can find money for that.”
“Sure everybody is going to be in a budget crunch. The resources are dwindling and the demand is increasing. But it’s a matter of priorities.”
Williamsfield CUSD #210 Superintendent Tim Farquer tells WGIL that the request for an SRO was a precautionary move. Adding that other rural school districts are also making considerations for SROs. The Elmwood school board has held discussions as of late to partner with the village on hiring a school resource officer.
