County BOE decides not to cut school resource officers

Education

Discussion

August 27, 2010

Larry Penkava Staff Writer The Randolph Guide Fri Aug 27, 2010, 04:29 PM EDT

ASHEBORO — A school board budget session came down to whether or not to cut school resource officers.

The answer was no.

In a special session Monday night, the Randolph County Board of Education considered how to cut $240,562 from the budget for the 2010-2011 fiscal year.

They started out with three options, two of which would have eliminated one or two school resource officers (SROs).

Option #1 included cutting officers at Braxton Craven School in Trinity as well as another at either Southwestern Randolph High or Middle. It also included elimination of four weeks of summer reimbursement and transfer of $90,562 from textbook carryover funds.

Option #2 would have eliminated the Braxton Craven SRO, given the Sheriff’s Office a year’s notice of an additional $100,000 reduction and transfer of $190,562 from textbooks. The third option was to transfer the entire $240,562 from textbooks.

On hand for the meeting were Sheriff Maynard Reid and Capt. Aundrea Azelton, who supervises the SROs. All SROs are sworn deputy sheriffs.

The board discussed a number of ideas for reducing costs, including closing schools for one or two weeks during the summer months. But the overriding feeling was that eliminating SROs could result in less safety for children.

“It’s about like cutting teachers,” said Grady Lawson. “I would like to see the SROs kept. I’d hate to have something happen (without a SRO on campus). It’d be on my conscience.”

“When you have (an officer) there, (the children) respect that,” Gary Cook said.

“It’s a positive to have one on campus,” said Paul Guthrie, who is a retired teacher. He said he had always felt safer with a SRO at school.

“I’ll do whatever you say,” Reid told the board. “My main concern ... is the safety of the children.”

Reid brought up an incident that occurred at John Lawrence Elementary during the past school year in which the Braxton Craven SRO was the first on the scene and locked down the school. He said she also fills in at other schools in the area besides working at Braxton Craven.

Chairman Matthew Lambeth suggested that the Sheriff’s Office hold off on buying two of three used Highway Patrol cars, for a savings of $15,562.

Along with that, he advised taking $115,000 from textbooks and $100,000 from fund balance.

“It’s a hard job to balance this out,” Reid said. “If you say cut two cars, we’ll do that.”

Azelton said the used patrol cars will be the last Ford Crown Victorias that the Highway Patrol will use and they’re going at a good price.

“I don’t know if we’ll get this kind of deal (in the future),” she said.

Lambeth said the school board has “asked everyone to sacrifice. I don’t think this is as great a sacrifice (cars instead of SROs). He said the board would vote on the cuts at their regular meeting next Monday night.

Following a closed session after the budget work session, Judith Heffner was named principal of Level Cross Elementary School.

She is currently assistant principal of Robbins Elementary School in Moore County.

Text Only

Education

Schools prepare to honor outstanding teachers
Asheboro City Schools and Randolph County Schools will honor several of their outstanding teachers on May 23 during the annual Teacher of the Year Banquet at Pinewood Country Club.

May 17, 2012
Randleman FFA Hunter Safety Team competes at districts
The Randleman FFA Hunter Safety Team finished strong at the District 5 Hunter Safety Tournament held March 3 at the Alamance Gun Club, placing eighth overall out of 18 schools.

April 6, 2012
AHS senior, SWRHS freshman selected to All-State Honors Band
Two Randolph County musicians earned positions recently in the prestigious N.C. Bandmasters Association 2012 All-State Honor Bands.

April 6, 2012
AHS receives Toolbox for Education grant
Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation has awarded 32 Lowe’s Toolbox for Education grants in North Carolina – including $4,990 to Asheboro High School to upgrade an existing workspace.

March 6, 2012
SWRHS Interact Club gets charter
The Southwestern Randolph High School Interact Club was chartered Saturday night but was given a challenge: to make a difference in the community and in the world.

February 15, 2012 1 Photo
City students selected to All County Band
Twenty four students from Asheboro High School, 24 students from North Asheboro Middle School and 10 students from South Asheboro Middle School were accepted into the All County Band.

February 15, 2012
Asheboro City Schools plans Digital Learning Expo
Asheboro City Schools will hold their first Digital Learning Expo from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. April 3 in the Professional Development Center on the Asheboro High School campus.

February 15, 2012
Musicians earn positions in district honor bands
Seven Asheboro City Schools students have earned, through competitive audition, positions in the 2012 Central District Bandmasters Association All-District Honor Bands.

January 26, 2012
Diane Frost in running for national award
Dr. Diane Frost, superintendent of Asheboro City Schools, is one of four finalists in the 2012 National Superintendent of the Year program sponsored by the American Association of School Administrators, ARAMARK Education and ING.

January 8, 2012 1 Photo
Asheboro High School
Asheboro High School All A's and A/B Honor Roll for the second six weeks.

December 18, 2011
More Education Headlines

Education

Search Results

Discussion

County BOE decides not to cut school resource officers

Site Map

How to reach us