Extra school officers discussed during two meetings

Oconee County Council members were told last night to expect a vote next week by the school board, approving two additional school resource officers to rotate among the county’s elementary schools.  How Oconee can enhance school safety was the prime topic last night for a meeting of the county council’s law enforcement and public safety committee.  Sheriff Mike Crenshaw said to ensure that each of the county’s elementary schools has its own school resource officer will cost in excess of $500 thousand.  Councilman Reg Dexter said the size of expenditure required is going to raise questions about where the county will find the money.  Dexter raised the specter of a tax increase, which the council has sought to avoid.  The committee discussion led to Chairman Wayne McCall saying there is a need for the county’s public safety agencies to be able to communicate with each other on one radio channel.