On Tuesday, June 9, the Greensboro City Council agreed to cut $500,000 in funding for the school resource officer (SRO) program that serves Guilford County Schools – well, that news went over like lead balloon among Guilford County Commissioners.
Or, really, more like a giant flaming and crashing object such as the Hindenburg.
In short, the move by the City Council did not sit well at all with the Guilford County commissioners, who consider the program – which is jointly funded by the city and the county –important to the security of the schools. The SRO’s work in schools to protect the students from outside threats and they also keep watch for situations where students are likely to harm other students.
In recent years, Guilford County Commissioner Justin Conrad has made school security his top priority, so when he learned that the City Council was cutting out $500,000 for the program that totals $1.6 million annually, Conrad was greatly disturbed.
On Wednesday, June 10, he spoke on the phone with nearly all of the other commissioners – who, he said, were also very disturbed.
Conrad said he first learned of the move in the Rhino Times, and, when he read about it, he was shocked that the City Council would even consider something like that. He said he was also upset that the council “blindsided” the commissioners.
“I started making calls after I saw the article,” Conrad said. “It’s really disappointing that they would take something that’s been in place for 20 years and then would blindside another elected board eight days – eight days – before we’re set to adopt a budget.”
“What is the city doing here?” he added.
The Greensboro City Council hasn’t approved a final 2020-2021 budget and Conrad said he hopes that the City Council strongly reconsiders its current path.
“My hope is that cooler heads will prevail,” he said.
Conrad said that, based on his conversations with school officials, it’s his understanding that Guilford County Schools Superintendent Sharon Contreras also had no forewarning about the impending cut.
According to Commissioner Conrad, Guilford County will fund the program by itself if has to, but he added that, if the county has to come up with another half-million dollars to make up for what the city is cutting out, then he’s not sure where that money will come from. (Read: That money will come directly from some service that benefits the city.)
He said it’s very unfortunate if this ends up in some sort of “tit-for tat” financing battle between the city and the county, and he said that he really feels like that sort of relationship unraveling would not be beneficial for the city in the end.
“We shouldn’t be in this type of confrontational situation, but we didn’t start this,” Conrad said.
Conrad, who led a move in 2018 by the county to get millions of dollars quickly to the school system to enhance the security of school buildings, is a parent.
“This is something that transcends race; it transcends economics; it transcends everything,” he said. “Every parent that sends a kid off to school each morning wants to know that their kid will return home safely.”
The Board of Commissioners is expected to adopt a final county budget on Thursday, June 18. That budget contains all sorts of items that benefit Greensboro such as money for Downtown Greensboro Inc., the Greensboro Chamber of Commerce, the city’s libraries, and much more.
Or, at least, the county budget usually contains that funding.
We know that armed guards, metal detectors, and limited access points would virtually eliminate school shootings. The LEFT isn’t having any of that, as it would eliminate their narrative of “gun control” (complete control). I pay both city and county taxes, so I suggest adding additional County school protections as indicated, and defund the city that which is paid by country residents – ALL of us in Guilford County. Sounds like a plan.
Completely Agree with your comments. I also am a taxpayer of both city and county taxes, and I am adamantly opposed to the asinine action by the Greensboro City Council in this matter. I agree that the Guilford County Council should hold back any and all funds for the City. Let these leftists, socialists, anarchists figure out how to pay bills when the revenue stops coming. The action by the City Council is as a result of the Radical Left in the Greensboro Area particularly the Minority Community. This action is directly related to the “Defund The Police ” Movement, a movement consisting of pure Anarchy.
How STUPID can one group of leaders be ‘ if they can be called leaders ‘.This has got to be the very dumbest decision a group can even consider .with all the shootings at schools in America today a group will even consider such a plan. When are the People’Dems’ of Greensboro going to grow a spine and vote out this group in the city counsel.This is a direct result of the corruption going on in America,having Dems in charge and can’t make a legitimate decision.Comeon Greensboro you can do better.
Mr Conrad: I know of 10 million dollars that could be used to foot the bill for the SRO’s o wait You and the board have already gave that away with no strings attached and have no clue what the money went for
What a waste of Taxpayers money. It’s time for answers and stop wasting money it’s time to be responsible get the money to what the school system really. Needs the Kids! For School security give me a break.
This stoopiditty is a direct reflection of the electorate.
Obviously this is a knee-jerk reaction from our WOKE City Council! Buying votes for their next election. What a bunch of fools!
Any one can read through the fog surrounding this action by the Greensboro City Council. It is motivated by the recent liberal thinking behind “defunding the police departments.” The council gave $500,000 to one of their own members, which was a direct conflict of interest and could possibly violate state law. What has the City received from this? Nothing but talk, talk, talk. I hope the Commissioners hold back all money set to be given to the City by the county. Since the council is so intelligent, let them figure out how to cut their budget.
The school system is Guilford County Schools. Why are they not paid by taxes from Guilford County? We do not have Greensboro Schools or High Point Schools.
I appreciate the decision by the County Commissioners to fund the SROs regardless of what the City Council does. It’s obvious the City is pandering to politics and has no regard for the safety of the students or teachers in the schools.
Apparently the City of Greensboro is not Immune to the Anarchist, Leftist, Socialist Agenda of the Radical Left, being injected into the Minority Community, raising their angor on local Police and Politicians. The City Council is cowering to their outrageous and criminal demands. The current city council is spineless and only responds and acts on actions and complaints from the left.
This is the very type of bru ha ha that was occurring in those two “government” bodies pushing me out of the area after 40 years. My votes never seemed to change anything. Live in another state now. Sorry Greensboro friends. Life can be better.
Where?