South Central School Superintendent Kerry Herdes is extremely pleased with the initial work of the School Resource Officer the district is sharing with Patoka.
He outlined the work SRO and Marion County Sheriff’s Deputy Shane King has already done for the district.
“He’s just consulted on our threat assessment plan. We put some of that in place just for some minor stuff”, Herdes said. “Just keeping the kids in the building safe and secure, keeping the parents at ease. We’ve had an excited response, happy response from staff, parents, and students alike, the board and the community. It gives you good piece of mind.”
Herdes says King is well accepted because he is a South Central graduate and resident.
The board approved the tentative budget which has expenses matching revenue. Herdes is pleased with that as he had initially feared a budget in the red due to the district no longer having ESSER COVID Relief funds. The district is projected to have $7.3 million in the bank at the end of the current school year. Final approval of the budget will come after a public hearing at the start of the September school board meeting.
The board was told South Central Elementary is starting the school year with 284 students, down 22 from last year. The middle school has 146 students, one less than last year. The high school enrollment is 186, down four from this time last year.
