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Davidson County adding more SROs to schools

Seven more SROs will be added across 18 elementary schools.

DAVIDSON COUNTY, N.C. — Davidson County is taking action to better protect students by beefing up safety at its schools.  

Monday Davidson County commissioners approved money to add school resource officers in elementary schools.

WFMY News 2's Itinease McMiller found out how the grant money is meant to keep students safe. 

She learned seven new SROs will be placed across the district's 18 elementary schools. 

Davidson County Sheriff Richie Simmons went before the board of commissions Monday to get their approval on a school safety grant to add the extra SROs.  

“I've got to find seven more SRO officers it's a challenge but we're having good success and a good opportunity to hire a lot of good people right now," Simmons said. 

The sheriff’s office currently uses this same state grant to pay for the SROs at the district's seven middle schools. 

This year the state is offering more money so they applied for the full $1.6 million to add the elementary SROs and pay for additional bus cameras and door access controls. 

It’s something commissioner Chris Elliot is on board with.  

“That quick system the door locks that could warn you yall got down and dirty with that and I hope we can get that in as many schools as we can," Elliot said."That limits the number of SROs we need for quick response." 

The county will now have to come up with a way to pay $200,000 for the new officer's vehicles, uniforms, and firearms. 

It didn't stop all seven commissions from approving the two-year grant. 

We checked with other Triad school districts to see if they'll also add SROs at elementary schools. 

Rockingham County approved this same grant back in October and expects to have them hired and ready to go next school year. 

Guilford County Schools said they are not adding SROs at the moment but are always in conversation about student and staff safety.   

Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools also said at this time there are not adding elementary SROs.  

Sheriff Bobby Kimbrough shared his opinion on the matter two weeks ago at a Lewisville community forum.  

"I believe we should have SROs from k-12th grade," Kimbrough said. "That’s what I believe but I don’t make that decision that is a school board decision.”

All Triad school districts have SROs in middle and high schools. 

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