By Aila Boyd
aboyd@mainstreetnewspapers.com
The Botetourt County School Board unanimously voted on August 13 to pass a resolution in support of the use of face masks.
The resolution states: “The Botetourt County School Board recognizes the importance of face masks during the health pandemic.”
Michelle Crook, the chair of the School Board, explained that the resolution was developed by the School Board. “We recognize that wearing the face mask helps stop the spread of coronavirus and we want to make sure that our governing body is abundantly clear of our expectation for the upcoming school year,” she said. She went on to say that the School Board hopes that by putting the expectation in the form of a resolution that it will bring a degree of seriousness to the issue.
It notes that face masks are required on school buses and when six feet of social distancing cannot be maintained.
“Students are strongly encouraged to wear face masks when a teacher with health concerns requests them to do so,” the resolution states.
The School Board also passed a resolution in support of school resource officers.
The resolution that was passed reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the Virginia School Resource Officer (SRO) Grants Program and Fund was established by the General Assembly in 1999 as a special non-reverting fund within the state treasury to employ uniformed school resource officers; and
WHEREAS, the enabling legislation which created the SRO Grants Program and Fund passed the Senate of Virginia 39-0 and the Virginia House of Delegates 89-0; and
WHEREAS, the program funds School Resource Officer and School Security Officer position salaries in elementary, middle and high schools with a local match based on composite index; and
WHEREAS, SROs have served a vital role in keeping our students, faculty and staff safe while developing positive relationships between students, law enforcement, and the broader community in Botetourt County since 1998; and
WHEREAS, Botetourt County has received $0.00 in crucial funding from the School Resource Officer Grants Program and Fund to support 8 positions in our schools; and
WHEREAS, the absence of state funding will greatly reduce or eliminate our ability to post SROs in our schools; and
WHEREAS, Governor Ralph Northam stated on June 13, 2019 that, “It is paramount that we continue to make smart investments to keep Virginia schools safe and to create supportive learning environments for our students. The school resource officers and school security officers hired through these grants not only make our schools safer, but also enhance our communities by building strong positive relationships with students, faculty, and parents.”
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Botetourt County School Board does hereby request that Governor Ralph Northam, in conjunction with the Senate of Virginia and Virginia House of Delegates, maintain the existence of the School Resource Officer Grants Program and Fund with adequate funding therein.
