CALHOUN COUNTY, S.C. — School safety is on everyone’s mind this week following the deadly shooting at Apalachee High School in Georgia on September 4th.
Over in Calhoun County, the school district is using a $193,000 grant to maintain security in their schools with an third school resource officer, which allows them to have an officer at each school.
The grant is part of an initiative of the State Department of Public Safety.
Calhoun County Sheriff Thomas Summers says the money pays for the officer's salary, uniform, equipment and car this year.
“Well, I think it was originally set up to have more officers. We only have three schools, two of them we fund, and then the grant funds the third one.”
Summers says this is the fourth time the county has received this grant and it will continue to apply for more.
Matthew Derr, a parent of three children attending school in Calhoun County, said he finds that reassuring for both him and his children.
"It introduces the kids to police officers and not afraid be of them," Derr said. "Having one here at school everyday, having them interact with them every day is good. I think it’s good all around."
Derr said having more security is also important to have, especially with the climate of the world, and he is happy the district is keeping his children safe.
"I mean, it's definitely better off that they have one," Derr said. "I mean, the more the better. There is security in numbers. The more that we have at the schools, hopefully we deter anything bad from happening.”
Summers said the cost for the vehicle for the resource officer is roughly around $70,000.