Jackson County Public Schools will begin the 2026–27 school year short of several school resource officers.
District officials told the Jackson County Board of Education that the Sheriff’s Office has been unable to fill two SRO positions. The district currently places school resource officers throughout the school system to provide security and support students and staff.
The school board approved a renewed agreement with the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office for the upcoming school year. The agreement includes a higher hourly rate when schools request officers for after-school activities.
The Sheriff’s Office provides coverage for a set number of athletic events at no cost to the district. Schools must pay the hourly rate when they request additional coverage beyond those events.
District officials said higher state salaries for law enforcement officers did not include county or municipal employees, making it more difficult for the Sheriff’s Office to recruit and retain deputies.
School administrators encouraged Jackson County commissioners to provide additional funding to help fill the open positions and support the Sheriff’s Office.
