DELAND, Fla. – Seven Volusia County deputies are coming to middle schools after the school board approved a plan to spend more than a half million dollars to fund the deputies.
The school board voted 4-1 on Tuesday to fund the seven school resource deputies at an hourly rate of $90.56. The deputies will work 8 hours a day for 100 days, with the cost coming to $507,136.
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In addition, the sheriff’s office agreed to fund one sergeant for $97,614.55, who will also work as an SRD.
The sheriff’s office hopes to have all of the SRDs recruited by Jan. 1.
The school district said it needs the additional deputies in seven middle schools where there are currently only school guardians. The district said those schools had to call law enforcement a combined 257 times during the first month and a half of the school year.
The issue led to a fight between the school district and the Volusia County Council. The school district asked the council last month to approve the new deputies based on the current agreement between the two — 55% of the cost paid by the schools and 45% paid by the county.
But the council rejected the request unanimously, saying that they had already set their budget, and said the request from the school district amounted to a bailout.
They are harboring substantial reserves that could easily cover the costs of this vital service and attempting to divert (their) financial responsibility to another agency is irresponsible and unacceptable,” said County Chair Jeff Brower in a statement.
The school district’s chief financial officer criticized the council for showing disrespect and a lack of understanding of “our shared responsibilities in ensuring children’s safety in the county.”
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