HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) —
Henderson County Commissioners said Wednesday they are committed to funding school resource officers at four schools in Hendersonville for the 2024-25 school year, potentially diffusing a source of tension between the city and the county.
Bruce Drysdale Elementary, Hendersonville Elementary, Hendersonville Middle and Hendersonville High schools — part of the Henderson County Public Schools district — are currently staffed by Hendersonville Police Department SROs.
During recent budget discussions, county officials explored the possibility of no longer funding those positions, which would have left Hendersonville with a $305,000 budget hole.
“After polling the other four commissioners, discussing this matter with our partners, and in acknowledgment of the strain this would put on the city of Hendersonville’s budget at this point in time if they decided to continue to provide the SROs for these four schools, the decision was made by the board of commissioners to continue partial funding of city police officer SROs for this fiscal year,” Board Chair Rebecca McCall said in a news release.
In the written release, commissioners said it “underscores the County’s dedication to maintaining a safe educational environment by ensuring a consistent presence of law enforcement in the County schools.
“The city of Hendersonville is pleased to learn that Henderson County will be funding Hendersonville Police Department’s school resource officers for the 2024-2025 fiscal year,” Mayor Barbara Volk said in a statement at a meeting Wednesday afternoon at the city’s Operations Center. “The city council appreciates the board of commissioners’ willingness to listen to the concerns of the faculty, students and parents of the affected schools.”
HENDERSONVILLE, COUNTY IN TUG OF WAR OVER SCHOOL OFFICER FUNDING
In 2018, the Henderson County Board of Commissioners began its commitment to provide school resource officers in Henderson County Public Schools.
In 2021, the board approved reimbursing Hendersonville for city police officers who serve Hendersonville High, Hendersonville Middle, Hendersonville Elementary and Bruce Drysdale Elementary for 82 percent of the costs, the news release said. This past school year, that amount was $250,000.
During the board’s budget retreat on May 15, commissioners discussed the SROs who work in the four schools within city limits.
“However, no decisions were made at that time on whether to continue with this funding or move the responsibility of those four schools to the Henderson County sheriff, who provides SRO service for the other 19 schools in Henderson County,” the news release said. “This is a budget item the board of commissioners addresses every year. As with all programs funded by Henderson County, this line item will be revisited during the 2025/2026 budget process.”
Volk said city officials are committed to working with county leaders to protect students, teachers and administrators.
“The Hendersonville Police Department school resource officers serve a critical role in supporting school students in our city,” Volk said. “Their specialized training allows them to deal with a wide range of issues facing our students. We believe that it is important that Hendersonville Police Department officers are in the Hendersonville schools to form critical relationships with our young people.”