The Guilford County Board of Commissioners plans to enter into a new $4.445 million agreement to provide School Resource Officers in local schools – a multi-year pact that would continue the county’s financial commitment to placing deputies in public school buildings across Guilford County.
The proposed interlocal agreement between the county and the Guilford County Board of Education would cover 16 School Resource Officers along with supervisory support over a three-year period.
The commissioners are expected to approve the move at their Thursday, Feb. 19 meeting.
The total cost of the agreement will be $4,445,013. The contract will be retroactive to July 1, 2025, and run through June 30, 2028.
Under the proposal, the school system will reimburse the county on a quarterly basis for a portion of the officers’ salaries and associated costs.
The agreement reflects a continuation of a long-standing partnership between county government and the school system to provide law enforcement officers on campus. School Resource Officers – commonly known as SROs – are assigned to middle and high schools to provide security, build relationships with students and staff and respond quickly to emergencies.
Guilford County staff noted in agenda materials that the cost of providing the officers has increased in recent years due to salary adjustments and other personnel-related expenses. While the school system reimburses a significant portion of the cost, the county is expected to absorb a shortfall estimated at roughly $200,000 over the life of the agreement.
The discussion comes as both boards continue to navigate broader budget pressures. The Board of Education has repeatedly asked the county for additional funding to address teacher pay, staffing shortages and facility needs.
At the same time, the county commissioners are weighing major capital projects and rising operational costs. In recent years, the Board of Commissioners has been very, very generous when it comes to funding the schools and putting big school bonds on the ballot.
Supporters of School Resource Officers often argue that the presence of uniformed deputies in schools provides a visible deterrent to violence and it ensures rapid response in the event of a crisis.
In Guilford County, SRO funding has historically been a shared responsibility between the county and the school system. This new agreement maintains that cost-sharing structure while locking in the number of deputies assigned under the contract.
