Perry County Schools will create district police force, end SRO contract

Perry County Schools plans to establish an in house police department to staff at least one officer in every school by August 2026, replacing the district's long running contract with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office for school resource officers. District leaders say the new force will employ full time officers dedicated to schools, carry the same authority and training as other police officers, and be managed directly by the school district.

Chief financial officer Jody Maggard said the district has been examining the idea for several years and consulted with other school systems that have made similar changes. Maggard told district officials the startup phase will require buying vehicles, uniforms and equipment and funding additional training for incoming officers who are not already SRO trained. He said those initial costs are expected to be higher, but the district projects that operating its own force will be less expensive over time than continuing the contract with the sheriff's office.

District leaders are emphasizing consistent daily presence and reduced turnover as primary benefits. Maggard said the district expects full time school employees in policing roles will be able to develop longer term relationships with students and increase familiarity inside school buildings, which the district views as a contributor to safety.

The decision reassigns budgetary responsibility for school policing from the sheriff to the school district and raises institutional questions for local governance. The district will need to adopt policies for recruitment, oversight, discipline and community engagement that are currently managed through a county law enforcement contract. The sheriff's office will also see a reduction in functions it has provided to schools, with potential fiscal and operational consequences for county law enforcement.

For Perry County residents the most immediate impacts will be how the district funds the startup costs and how hiring and oversight processes are structured. The district says officers will have the same training and legal authority as other officers, with the primary difference being employer and workplace. School board meetings and budget hearings in the coming months will be key opportunities for residents to review contracts, training standards and accountability measures as the district implements the plan before the 2026 school year.