Letters Go Out Giving Dec. 31 Deadline To Vacate Property
posted August 27, 2008
The county school system is ending a longstanding program of having police officers and others living on school grounds.
Certified letters went out this week telling those still in the program they must vacate the school grounds by the end of the year.
The arrangement was in effect at some 16 schools - with some "watchmen" living in their own trailers and others in houses owned by the school system.
Chester Bankston, county school board member, said, "It got down to where a lot of those in the program were not doing what they were supposed to be doing. One principal did not even know who was living in the house at that school, and another person in the program was renting out to someone else."
Gary Waters, assistant superintendent for auxiliary services, said cost was also a factor. He said the county schools were spending some $60,000 per year providing free utilities to those in the program.
Both Mr. Bankston and Mr. Waters said in a few cases, the program was working very well. He said in those cases the officers checked the school property at night and responded when problems arose.
But Mr. Bankston said only about three of those in the program now had police vehicles on site.
Among those in the program were county Lt. Max Templeton and Sgt. Robert Starnes. There were also a couple of Highway Patrol officers.
Mr. Bankston said board members were advised by the school board attorney and risk manager that if they just tried to keep the program in the few schools where it was working well that they could face a lawsuit.
He said those owning the trailers are to remove them, and he said the houses will be demolished.
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