Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/352007
"I have heard a lot in the community these past couple of weeks about the need for an SRO officer in every elementary school," board member Caroline Zucker pointed out. When Zucker asked how much more that would cost the district, White replied, "Probably over $4 million," adding that because of budget con- cerns among the law enforcement agencies, she did not believe any of them would be able to maintain a 50/50 split for the cost of more officers. Therefore, the district proba- bly would have to pick up the entire expense, she said, including benefits. School Board candidate Velton Hodges, who is vying for the District 1 seat previously held by long-time board member Carol Todd, told the News Leader early this month that he believes "a licensed, uniformed, armed, trained law enforcement officer" should be on every elementary school campus. A graphic shows the breakdown of costs for School Resource Officers in the 2014-15 school year for the Sarasota County Schools. Image courtesy Sarasota County Schools Sarasota News Leader July 25, 2014 Page 53