School resource officer issue to be addressed during budget talks

This 2008 photo shows the exterior of Signal Mountain Middle/High School.
This 2008 photo shows the exterior of Signal Mountain Middle/High School.

With preliminary discussions about the 2017-2018 fiscal budget now underway, Signal Mountain council members will again have decisions to make about an issue long sidelined: the school resource officer.

After more than two years at the top of the Hamilton County Sheriff's Office's waiting list, Signal Mountain Middle/High School finally received a county-funded SRO in January.

The new SRO, Deputy Dale Lockhart, was meant to replace the SRO employed through Signal Mountain Police Department, who has been overseeing safety at the school on the town's dime since 2011. Per the suggestion of Signal Mountain Police Chief Mike Williams and SMMHS Principal Todd Stinson, however, both SROs continued to work at the school after Lockhart was stationed, and Mayor Chris Howley said the council would consider the need for two officers during budget discussions, which began during the council's work session Friday.

photo Deputy Dale Lockhart

Last September, Williams recommended SMMHS have two officers, pointing to the student population of approximately 1,300, which he said was too large for just one SRO.

But East Hamilton Middle High School, with a current student population of more than 1,700, has only one SRO, and Ooltewah High School, which currently enrolls about 1,500 students, also has one officer, though it often employs a second officer from a neighboring school for large events or assemblies.

In later interviews, town-appointed SRO Heath "Gunne" Gunter agreed with Williams' assessment that having only one officer could leave the school vulnerable during an emergency. He added that the large building's many exits and entrances made it difficult for one officer to patrol the school and still find time to teach the safety classes at Nolan Elementary and Thrasher Elementary required of his position.

In February, however, Gunter left the school to pursue other career opportunities, and SMMHS has since been patrolled by only one officer. To compensate for Gunter's absence, Signal Mountain police officers have maintained a more visible presence at the school, serving as "backup" to the remaining SRO, and Williams said school authorities have expressed no safety concerns.

"It was obviously better with two, but with our added presence and the county SRO over there, I feel comfortable that the school is safe," said Williams.

Town Manager Boyd Veal said as it stands, the council may not opt to appoint a new town-funded SRO, but added that may change as budget discussions progress.

While the county-funded SRO comes at no cost to the town, appointing a second officer could cost Signal Mountain taxpayers approximately $60,000 a year. The expense will be in competition with other financial concerns, such as building a new fire station on Shackleford Ridge Road, planned for $2 million plus $500,000 annually for staffing, and funding a solution for the Mountain Arts Community Center, which will vary based on which rehab scenario town officials select. The council will also have to the consider coming loss of the Hall tax revenue, which generated an average of $750,000 each year for the last three years.

Budget discussions are ongoing, and the final 2017-2018 budget will be approved before fiscal year 2018, which begins July 1.

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