Polk Schools receives grant for additional SRO

COLUMBUS — Polk Central Elementary School should soon have on-site police protection.

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday night and approved creating a new school resource officer position after being told by Polk County Schools Superintendent Aaron Greene that the school had received a grant.

Greene said the school applied for a grant for a few new officers, and got funding for one at $33,000 per year. Another grant, which pays for one SRO now, was also increased from $24,000 a year to $33,000 a year.

“One thing we are always focusing on is school safety,” Greene said.

The county currently has three SROs and, with the new funding, will have four. Currently, the county has one SRO at the high school, one at the middle school and one that floats between the county’s four elementary schools.

“We feel strongly that [new] person should spend a lot of time at Polk Central Elementary, given its remote location,” Greene said.

The new SRO will also spend time at Sunny View Elementary School.

Greene said the decision to place the new SRO at Polk Central and Sunny View is based on the time it would take law enforcement to get to those schools, as the buildings are not located in a municipality. Tryon Elementary has the Tryon Police Department close by, as well as Saluda. The current floating officer will continue coverage of those elementary schools.

Commissioner Vice Chair Myron Yoder said worry does set in when thinking about school shootings around the country.

“When the school shootings go on, we start worrying, sweating, praying,” Yoder said. “And [wondering] if our schools are safe.”

Greene said getting another SRO is huge for the school system. He said although it is not verified, there is a theory that the Sandy Hook shooter first went to another school and left because he saw an SRO car.

“I’m delighted this funding is there,” said Commissioner Ray Gasperson. “It was not long ago, we had no SROs. I think it’s vital. This is not only for the concern of, God forbid, shooters, but a whole range of issues they diffuse.”

Greene said SROs are good on many levels, including students being able to see officers in a positive light and having relationships with students, parents and teachers.

The school system will now have four SROs, with two county-funded and two grant-funded. The school system gives the Polk County Sheriff’s Office the grant funds for those two officers.

Greene also said there is a Polk County Schools fund at the Polk County Community Foundation, and anyone wanting to improve security at Polk County Schools can make donations there.

Polk County Schools was recently named the top rank district in North Carolina, academically.