The Marion County Board of Supervisors held a discussion at their meeting Tuesday on a school resource officer position for Melcher-Dallas and Twin Cedars Schools.

The discussion at the meeting was held with Sheriff Jason Sandholdt and Twin Cedars and Melcher-Dallas Superintendent Scott Bridges about the potential new position. Sandholdt says SRO’s are valuable resources in school districts and that the relationships that are built between the students and law enforcement benefits local communities along with the safety aspect in the schools. This would be a created position within the Marion County Sheriff’s Department as Bussey and Melcher don’t have local police departments to support an SRO. 

The position would serve both districts working two days in one district and two in the other and would work a regular shift with the sheriff’s department on Fridays as the school district has four day school weeks and in the summertime. The supervisors board members are hesitant about the new position due to what it will cost the county. However, Bridges says the districts would be able to provide over $30,000 to help fund the position.

No action was taken.