In an effort to make schools safer, 44 active resource officers will return to elementary, middle and high school campuses this school year.
The Alachua County School Board at its meeting Aug. 21 unanimously put funds toward four school resource officer programs.
The programs, which went into effect Aug. 1, create partnerships with local precincts, which cover the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and cities including Alachua, High Springs and Gainesville. Each program was funded by a mixture of Florida Department of Education Safe Schools grants, the ACSB and state general revenue funds.
At least one SRO is required to be present at each Florida school after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act passed in 2018.
ACPS have maintained 44 on-campus officer positions for the last two years, ACPS Communications Director Jackie Johnson wrote in an email.
ACPS District Security Chief Doug Pelton said the programs “spell out the responsibilities of the SROs [school resource officers] within the schools.”
“We’re just happy the SROs are supportive of our district and our students and they’re going to be there to support them and keep them safe,” Pelton said.
The first program authorized at the meeting designates ACSO to employ one deputy each to 15 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition, two officers will staff Buchholz High School and Eastside High School. The Alachua County School Board will pay $1,819,659 for its yearly share to fund the program.
The second program designates the Gainesville Police Department to employ one officer each to 14 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition, two officers will staff Gainesville High School and the A. Quinn Jones Center. ACSB will pay $1,514,775 for its yearly share to fund the program.
The third program designates the Alachua Police Department to employ one officer each to three local schools. In addition, two officers will staff Santa Fe High School. ACSB will pay $299,574 for its yearly share to fund the program.
The fourth program designates the High Springs Police Department to employ two officers to High Springs Community School. The board will pay $134,645 for its yearly share to fund the program.
In addition to academy training, SROs undergo specialized training to mentor and educate youth, including mental health crisis prevention, according to 2024 state statutes.
The number of SROs needed for each school depends on campus size, school climate, location and non-sworn safety team members, or employees trained on proactive security measures.
Contact Sara-James Ranta at sranta@alligator.org. Follow her on X @sarajamesranta.
Sara-James Ranta is a third-year journalism major, minoring in sociology of social justice and policy. Previously, she served as a general assignment reporter for The Alligator's university desk.
