Trustees add two school officers

Oconee school trustees will pay for the hiring and equipping of two additional school resource officers to be assigned to the county’s elementary schools.  The trustees last night approved a plan to assign the one existing elementary school officer and the two additional ones to cover the 10 elementary schools district wide.  During last night’s meeting, there was no disagreement that safety would be enhanced to have officers at all elementary schools, but the district superintendent asked the trustees to be mindful of the district’s budget situation.  Trustees discussed which public entity, the district or the sheriff’s office, or both, should pick up the tab for the school officers.  Seneca resident Kevin Larkin told the trustees at the start of the meeting he believes the fairest method would be for the district to pay the officers’ salaries and benefits, while the sheriff’s office pays for the officers’ vehicles and equipment.  Larkin also questioned the wisdom of eliminating positions of mental health counselors whose expertise can be used to counsel against violence in the schools.