Money has been an issue for the local SRO program in recent months, with the city school system deciding in December to eliminate an SRO position at Mount Airy Middle School due to state budget cuts.
Also last month, educational officials proposed an agreement for a resource officer at the high school in which the schools would continue to fund that position for the remainder of this academic year. “The last day of service under the existing funding arrangement will be June 9,” states the proposal from the system.
“The Mount Airy City Schools will not pay the salary or benefits for an SRO during the summer months while students are not regularly in school,” it adds.
The schools’ plan calls for continued funding for five years for the position, to begin on the first day of classes around late August, using the annual state allotment for an SRO officer of $37,838. It also proposes that the officer, while based at MAHS, would serve the other schools in the district “upon request.”
City officials expressed objections to that and other portions of the proposal during a two-day planning retreat that began Thursday at Bank of America on Independence Boulevard, in which they are setting budget priorities.
They agreed to pick up the extra two months of salary and benefits that the schools will not supply for the position. However, members of the Board of Commissioners and other municipal leaders also want the SRO to be assigned to only one school, among other changes in the proposal.
For one thing, covering several schools could overload the officer along with removing police supervisory control over that individual, officials said Thursday.
Police Chief Roger McCreary said other issues that bother him include the fact that the schools’ proposal contains no allowances for sick leave or vacation during the academic year.
Pointing out that the city government had prepared a “memo of understanding” addressing such issues, McCreary also said that another problem is a position by school officials that would restrict investigative procedures on campus.
For example, parental notification would have to be given in some cases in order to conduct an investigation, under the schools’ plan, which is contrary to normal police procedures permitted by law.
The chief believes the school proposal places “unreasonable” restrictions on the SRO that could jeopardize the safety of students. The city’s memo sets forth investigative procedures recently approved by the local district attorney, which also conform to court rulings on searches and other topics.
Commissioners agreed that such alterations to the agreement are in order, especially the necessity of the SRO to have all legal tools at his or her disposal.
“A law enforcement officer must be allowed to do their job — period, end of story,” said Todd Harris, one board member.
“The Constitution controls those matters,” Harris added, and not the school system.
Others concurred.
“I can appreciate the chief’s position of wanting to provide as much protection as possible to the students,” Mayor Jack Loftis said.
McCreary said that during the summer when school is out, the resource officer would be assigned to other duties in the Police Department, such as helping to fill in when personnel are on vacation. Additional training for SROs also is often conducted in the summer, based on Thursday’s discussion.
After a final review by City Attorney Hugh Campbell, the city government’s “counter-proposal” will be forwarded to the Mount Airy Board of Education for its consideration, said City Manager Don Brookshire.
Everyone was in agreement Thursday that the program is playing a key role in allowing police to build a rapport with students while handling any problems that arise.
“I think the SRO at the high school is desperately needed,” said Harris.
In outlining the need to take steps to continue the effective operation of the SRO effort, McCreary stated, “We cannot put a price on the safety of our kids. We cannot allow such an important program as this to come to an end.”
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