A new law that is speeding through the legislature would require School Safety Officers at each school but does not include funding for the additional trained safety officer.
Lawrence Co. Schools Chief Dr. Rob Fletcher has upgraded to follow the current law that is in place but if the new law goes into effect there are hurdles to jump.
The new bill is on Gov. Beshear’s desk and has been since Feb. 10. It requires a safety officer at each school.
Here is what we got from the state Legislative research committee today:
“Your question about Senate Bill 8, the bill that would arm school resource officers, was forwarded to me. That bill has been approved by the House and Senate and was delivered to the governor on Feb. 10. As of yesterday, the bill had not been signed by the governor. If it’s not signed within ten days of its delivery to the governor, excluding Sundays, it goes into law without his signature.”
Fletcher made these statements to The Lazer about the issue which has many residents asking if local taxpayers will have to pay the $50,000 salaries and who will get the jobs:
“Over the past few months, we have worked with both the Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the Louisa City Police Department to provide school resource officer (SRO) coverage in our schools. Each department has provided help in different ways and in different time frames. The Lawrence County Board of Education recently budgeted $100,000 for two full-time officers. Mr. Vernon Hall, Director of Personnel, and Sheriff Chuck Jackson worked out a partnership to provide one full-time school resource officer. The Board of Education allocated $50,000 to the Sheriff’s Department, and the Lawrence County Fiscal Court approved the contract for services.
The current requirement (SB1-2019) states that school systems “should” (as opposed to “shall”) hire SROs as funding and availability of applicants allow (paraphrasing). The $100,000 that the Board has allocated has come from the district budget. We have not been allocated funding from the state specifically for SROs.
If the state provides funding, it will still be an issue to find additional applicants, but we will do our best to recruit. Both Sheriff Jackson and Chief Fugitt have been very helpful in finding the two that we will have full time. In short, we will have two SROs that will share time among the 6 schools, and the school district will set that schedule. If the state allocates funding for SROs, we will continue to expand the program.
Finally, the selection (of SRO’s) process has been a collaboration effort among the school district, the Sheriff’s Department, and the City Police Department.
“Although we began our school resource officer work with the Louisa City Council, the City Police Department was having trouble keeping enough officers for both the city and for the school system. Fortunately, Chief Greg Fugitt is working to provide the second full-time position. Similar to the partnership with the county, the Lawrence County Board of Education has allocated $50,000 to the city. Chief Fugitt has reached out to surrounding counties and intends to provide the second full-time SRO in the next few days.
I am thankful for all those who have been involved in this process, including Sheriff Jackson, County Attorney Hogan, Judge Carter, the Lawrence County Fiscal Court, Chief Fugitt, Mr. Hall, the Louisa City Council, the Lawrence County Board of Education, and others. Each person has demonstrated what it means to be “All In” for our students.”
WITH ALL AREA SCHOOLS UNDER THE SAME STATE CONTROL, THE POSITIONS FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS COULD BE A BOOM IF THE STATE PUTS ANY MONEY WHERE IT’S MOUTH IS.
I don’t care what we have to do to pay for it. I want to see an armed guard at each school. This country is a mess anymore.
I’d also like to see those ignorant video games like “call of duty” banned. That garbage and lack of parenting is a big part of what’s ruining this country.
It’s a shame we need armed guards, but we do! The primary reasons are just what you said Mr. Angry. I would add single parent households to the list as well, social workers, drama queens of both sexes and most of all Liberals!
I think, if It’s necessary, no one would contest them having us help to pay for an officer to be at the school. It would be well worth it IMO because my daughter is in school and any parent would agree that our children’s safety is of highest priority!
Well the way I see it is officer make around 30k a year so give 30kto sheriff’s office and 70k to city office and the school pay 15k while the police department pays the other 15kthat puts 2 officers in the county while it give 4 officers for the city that will be able to give the sheriff’s office one more officer and the city 2 more officers
I know someone who has 2 degrees in criminal justice, one in law enforcement. So what exactly are the requirements for someone to be considered for these positions? I ask because if someone is going to be there to protect my kids, I personally wouldn’t want just anyone.
What would the requirements be for someone to be considered for these positions? If someone is going to be armed to protect my kids, I wouldn’t feel comfortable with just anyone that doesn’t have any type of schooling, training, or experience.
They had a SRO under the last Sheriff administration and one of the first things the new sheriff did was pull the officer and stop doing as many patrols at the schools. Will be interesting to see how this time works out. Some are definitely not “All In” for the schools or anyone else just for them to look better. On another note Great Job Chief on what you have accomplished.
Oh my lands sake…Give it up Mark Wheeler!!! You lost the Sheriff’s race…GET OVER IT!!! You keep digging yourself a deeper hole.
Man you are so far off Josephine!!! From what I hear Mark Wheeler is happy where he is at and doing bigger and better things now and has already GOTTEN OVER IT!!!. Sure is crazy for you to think he would be the only one who would be disappointed the county got fooled last election but hey that is on them. People are seeing the error of their choice. You have a nice day now.