Walker County, Alabama Board approves SRO program
- null null
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
WALKER COUNTY, Ala. —
The Walker County Board of Education has approved a new agreement to establish a School Resource Officer (SRO) program for the 2025-2026 academic year.
The agreement followed the indictment of Sheriff Nick Smith by a grand jury. Smith is accused of allegedly placing uncertified officers in the county's schools.
According to the agreement, the SROs will remain employees of the Walker County Sheriff's Department, ensuring they maintain their chain of command within the department.
Walker County Superintendent Dennis Willingham spoke to reporters after the board of education meeting, but did not answer follow up questions.
"We appreciate the partnership we have with the sheriff's department. We appreciate the protection they provide in the Walker County Schools system. We are excited about our contract. We look forward to another positive year, focusing on our number priority which is the safety for the students in the Walker County School system," he explained.
Willingham referred us to the district's attorney for anything else. We asked Russ Robertson, the attorney, if students and staff will be safer with the addition of the APOST certification requirement.
"I don't know that you could say they are a lot safer than they have been because I think the track record of safety has been exemplary. You are probably aware the board has been awarded accolades from the Uvalde Foundation and others for the extent of which folks have been safe on our campuses," Robertson said. "So I don't know if it makes them safer, but it is definitely designed to be another level of assurance that people will continue to be safe."
"Safety and security is something that is always under review, it is always subject to improvement. Hopefully this will be a way to further insure out students, faculty, and staff are safe while they are on campus."
The program is set to operate for one year, from August 1, 2025, to July 31, 2026, with a total cost of $437,480.33 for the eleven months of service.
In 2024, a Walker County SRO was recognized by the Uvalde Foundation for Kids. The nonprofit also planned to award the district a grant, " to be shared amongst both Walker County Schools & the Walker County Sheriff's Office for costs related to student safety enhancements, increased mental health support, safety programming & training for the SRO program, etc."
On Wednesday July 9th, the foundation noted its intent to halt this funding due to lack of communication from Walker County Schools 'Board of Education.
In response, foundation officials noted that while they continue to stand by the Sheriff and hope to address the courts in his behalf, they are halting efforts to connect/collaboate with the district itself and will be pulling any collaborative plans, along with a financial grant previously announced toward district SRO costs.
"While we continue to support the Sheriff and his efforts for the district and the communities students; we cannot in good conscience, continue to reach out to aide in the endeavor, to the board for collaboration; to no avail. Apparently, despite our initial understanding, internal politics have a priority to the board in this case over their kids. We understand more the current Sheriff's concerns in this regard.
The school boards refusal to even respond or consider our request to be heard, showcases a sad reality in this country amongst districts nationwide, who place divisions between them and the school communities they serve; ultimately showing their unwillingness to accept direction and place politics and demographic lines aside. And, who suffers? The students..."
Robertson says his office is right next to the building in Jasper that burned down over the weekend, so if someone has been reaching out he may not have been made aware.
