Madison County High School will have an in-house deputy next year.
The Madison County Board of Education (BOE) approved an agreement with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office March 9 for a school resource officer (SRO) after being presented with the proposal in February.
The agreement underwent minor changes after being reviewed by BOE members and the BOE’s legal counsel for the past month.
“The substance of this agreement hasn’t changed,” Madison County Schools Superintendent Mitch McGhee said.
Madison County High School has been interested for several years in an on-campus officer but the school system hasn’t had the funding for it.
But under this agreement, the sheriff’s office will cover the SRO’s salary. The Madison County School System will furnish the officer with an office.
The agreement calls for one-year terms that can be renewed by either party at the end of each year.
The officer will have to undergo training to become certified but should ready by July 1.
“It still seems like a very positive thing for us and the school system, and I believe it will be for the sheriff’s office as well,” McGhee said, before recommending that the BOE approve the agreement.
McGhee said it’s his understanding that SRO would be equipped like any other officer, which means the SRO will carry a gun.
“There are no restrictions, and I believe he’ll be a fully-outfitted deputy,” McGhee said. “