Agreement reached for School Resource Officers in Etowah County Schools

An agreement between the Etowah county sheriffs office and The Etowah County Board of Education to split the costs for six school resource officers was approved Thursday by the school board.  When the agreement began several years ago, the sheriff’s office, board of education and Etowah County Commission split the cost three ways. Later, the cost was split between the sheriff’s office and school board.  Sheriff Todd Entrekin said funding school resource officers is a priority because it’s important to have the officers in the schools.  The officers are assigned to each high school in areas outside Gadsden and Attalla. The cities of Southside, Rainbow City and Altoona pay for an officer in their respective jurisdictions.

The sheriff  said the goal is to eventually have an SRO in every school. He said the sheriff’s office has applied for a grant that would fund additional officers, and word on the grant’s status should come soon. If it’s approved, the County Commission and sheriff’s office would have to come up with matching funds.