The State Board of Education has approved the release of $48 million in carryover funds to enhance school safety measures. These funds, initially granted by the Department of Education but not fully utilized, will now be available for schools to apply for additional resources.
Superintendent Horne emphasized the importance of this funding, stating, “It is unfortunate that in some cases, previously granted dollars were not utilized because of the ongoing shortage of law enforcement officers in many communities. In most cases where there has not been a single full-time law enforcement officer available, the position was filled by multiple officers rotating overtime on their day off to ensure coverage for the full school week. Of course, we cannot afford to allow this vital funding to go unused, which means schools should contact the Department immediately to participate in this program.”
Horne also highlighted his commitment to school safety: “Making sure schools have armed officers on campus to protect students, educators and staff is one of my highest priorities. The sad reality is that we must ensure that if an armed maniac attacks a campus, there is a trained law enforcement officer on site to respond.”
The allocation includes approximately $39.4 million designated for 198 School Resource Officers or School Safety Officers and $8.5 million allocated for 66 new counselor or social worker positions. Resource Officers are stationed at campuses full-time while Safety Officers use multiple personnel to maintain continuous coverage.
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