Chester County officials say they feel certain they will take advantage of a statewide proposal that expands funding for School Resource Officers in public schools across Tennessee. The legislation was introduced by Gov. Bill Lee earlier this month as an amendment to the proposed upcoming Fiscal Year 2023-24 budget. The measure passed both Chambers of the General Assembly at the conclusion of their most-recent legislative session last week.
One-third of Tennessee public schools currently do not have an SRO. The additional funding will allow school systems to hire an SRO for every school through a grant process. Chester County SROs are currently funded by the county legislative body from the general fund and the school system. The school covers the salary for one deputy, and the county covers the remainder.
To help offset the school’s portion of the expenditure, Chester County Schools applied and received a safe schools grant, according to Chester County Schools Superintendent Troy Kilzer. Chester County Chief Deputy Mark Griffin said the law enforcement agency would like to use funding to hire additional SROs in the county, but noted potential challenges with finding the funding for cars and equipment for additional deputies.
If the passed legislation falls to law enforcement agencies to apply for the SRO funding, Griffin said he is certain the sheriff’s office will apply for the grants.
Kilzer said the new funding is non-competitive, but will require submission of a plan as a formality. He noted there is a second bulleted point to the bill which allows for a $20-million competitive, non-recurring grant. If Chester County qualifies for this funding, and is awarded, they would use it for upgrades of video cameras and the door-lock systems for school buildings.
Griffin reiterated the need for the funding of enhanced school security as school safety is important. “Chester County is like many other small communities in that we do not have the tax base to fund every project or program … receiving this money would be very beneficial,” Griffin added.
During a Senate Finance, Ways and Means Committee meeting held earlier this month, Tennessee Commissioner of Finance and Administration Jim Bryson outlined a budget amendment for the state’s Fiscal Year 2023-24 that would allow schools to apply for up to $75,000 in non-match, recurring grant funds to hire SROs or help pay for equipment and training for schools that already have an SRO in place.
The proposed budget amendment was drafted by Lee in response to a mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville the week prior. The amendment also includes funding for “behavioral interventionists” in schools. Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Commissioner Marie Williams said the proposal includes $8 million in recurring funds for 114 additional behavioral interventionist positions. She said there is currently one for every county, but the goal is to ensure each public school district.
In 2019, the state appropriated $772,000 for those positions. The program “took off” in 2021 when $4.5 million was allocated for 31 clinical interventionists through community partners, such as Volunteer Community Health Center, for students to obtain mental health services through schools. Williams said through community partners, even children who are uninsured would have access to mental health services.
Sen. Page Walley of Savannah (R-26) said the school atmosphere is a tinderbox and asked how to close the gap for mental health services and help reduce day-to-day aggression. He explained his son serves as a mental health counselor for the Anderson County school system. Walley said he knows of children who are a danger to themselves by cutting and hurting themselves and at risk of suicide.
Hohenwald Sen. Joey Hensley (R-28) asked if there were proposals in the budget for college campuses. There is a recommended $7 million in non-recurring grants for non-public schools in Tennessee. Of the $155 million proposed for school systems, $148 million are recurring funds. Bryson briefly explained some of the proposed SRO grant funding is what is already appropriated in grants for those positions. Bryson said although the state needs to remain cautious in Fiscal Year 2024, state revenues continue to be strong.
Williams explained there are current workforce shortages of psychiatrists and psychologists, not just in the state, but nationwide. The State will work with the Tennessee Psychiatrist Association to determine what qualifications are needed for the behavioral interventionist positions, whose projected salary would roughly range from $55-70,000 a year.
Fiscal Year 2023-24 begins July 1.
