After tragic school shootings in both Florida and Maryland, there have been calls to make sure all schools have a member of law enforcement who acts as a school resource officer. However, the problem is funding the positions which become a challenge for school districts dealing with property tax cap limitations and tight budgets.
Silver Creek Central Schools contracts out with the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office to a have a full-time school resource officer. It costs the district just under $80,000 per year.
Superintendent Todd Crandall said the safety of his 1,100 students was well worth the price, but Crandall wishes the federal government would pick up the cost of school resource officers. That way, explained Crandall, the $80,000 could be used to hire support staff to help deal with mental health issues among students.
7 Eyewitness News Reporter Ed Reilly went to Silver Creek Central Schools and has more in his reports.
