BY ROGER SMITH
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
INEZ — The Martin County School District is establishing its own district-based police force that will employ school resource officers. The BOE voted unanimously for the measure during a Jan. 9 meeting.
Superintendent Larry James announced during the meeting that a certified police officer had expressed interest in joining the district.
“They want to work for us,” James said. “It’s going to take a meeting or two to get the guidelines and everything established. Then we will have our own police force. We’ll have at least one officer to start, and maybe more.”
School resource officers are certified police officers who must complete training that targets the specific needs of school resource officers. This hurdle has delayed the district’s efforts.
“That’s been our holdup,” James said. “It isn’t money; it’s that we can’t find people who have been to the police academy.”
A law enforcement staffing shortage across the state has been another challenge. Sheriff’s departments have no obligation to provide officers to schools when they face a shortage of officers on the road.
For some officers, working directly for the school district can be a more appealing option. School districts offer stable funding, higher salaries and benefits that the funding-strapped local sheriff’s department cannot offer.
Board member Lorna Cassidy suggested hiring retired state police troopers to fill the positions.
“Nobody has applied,” James said. “But, like I said, I have one officer now, and I may have another interested.”
James said the district plans to initially station officers at the high school and middle school.
A new state law passed in 2024 also allows districts to employ armed “guardians” to address resource officer staffing shortages. Starting with the 2025-26 school year, districts may hire guardians as employees or utilize them as unpaid volunteers.
“They’ve not told us how to do it yet or set the guidelines,” James said, referring to the guardian law. “If we get two resource officers and guardians filling in at the elementary schools that would be great. We need them.”
Dena James, the board recorder and district special education director, noted that having officers at Martin County High School and Martin County Middle School would provide coverage on both sides of Buck Creek Hill.
Superintendent James agreed, adding that elementary schools would be in close proximity to those officers.
Meeting schedule for 2025, officers
The board announced that monthly meetings in 2025 will be on the second Monday of each month at 5 p.m. in the school district central office at 7900 Highway 645 in Inez.
Mickey McCoy, BOE member representing District 1, will again serve as board chairman.
Likewise, District 4 BOE member Steven Gauze will serve as vice chairman for the second year in a row.
Appreciation
James honored BOE members, acknowledging their service and dedication to the district.
“As a board member, it’s kind of a thankless job,” Mr. James said. “But I appreciate you all, and I know the community appreciates you. It takes all of us working together.”
Board chairperson McCoy represents District 1 and has served for 10 years.
Vice chairperson Gauze of District 4 has been a member for eight years.
Cassidy, recently reelected to her second term, represents District 3.
Clark is also serving his second term as the representative for District 2.
Kathleen Price, the board’s longest-serving member, represents District 5. She took office in 2003 to fill a vacant seat and has since been reelected six times.
James presented each member with a certificate of appreciation.
The previous week, he honored the BOE in an OP-ED published in the newspaper.