White County Begins Search For Second SRO For High School

The White County School Board approved the hiring of a second school resource officer for White County High School Thursday night.

Chairman Bob Young said the addition increases support at the high school without creating a budgetary stress. That’s because the state this year will begin paying for SROs across the state. White County currently has eight school resource officers.

Director Of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said his ultimate goal is to have both a male and female officer at the high school.

“What I’m asking the board is to have blanket permission that at the time that we find that extra SRO, I can transfer funding that I have for we have extra positions in our budget for in case we need to add a teacher down the road,” Dronebarger said. “We have a few extra positions, just two or three, but I can take one of those funding sources and move it over for an SRO.”

Dronebarger said one of the current officers may be leaving, so the first priority is getting a replacement for White County Middle School. That’s why finding the second officer may take some time.

“I just wanted to be able to jump when we get that opportunity rather than have to wait another month or two through that process,” Dronebarger said.

The school system has signed the memorandum of understanding with the Sheriffs Department, the first step in applying for the new state funding.

In other business, the board tabled a decision on new public comment rules at the board’s meeting. These are part of a new legislative effort to allow more public discussion at city and county meetings. The board discussed a 30-minute public discussion limit, with the opportunity for the board to extend that period for controversial topics.

The board also re-elected Young as chairman. Jayson McDonald and Dewayne Howard were also nominated as chair. McDonald declined the nomination. Howard received three votes for the position. McDonald will serve as vice-chair.

The board also approved McDonald to serve the Tennessee School Board Association. He will seek the role as vice president.

“I appreciate your confidence to me to be able to serve in that role,” McDonald said. “I’ve had the opportunity to serve as the treasurer this past year and have learned a lot. There’s a lot of money that goes through this state, a lot of money that goes through the association and a lot of money goes through our school system. So appreciate the opportunity and the confidence that you guys see in me to be able to serve in that role.”

New rooftop HVAC units have been installed at Northfield Elementary School and one at White County High School.