Aiken County ranks near top in S.C. schools without full-time officers
AIKEN, S.C. - Aiken County Public Schools has among the most campuses in the state without a full-time school resource officer, according to newly released statistics.
Fifteen Aiken County campuses lack a full-time SRO, and the only district with a higher level is Horry County with 29. The Florence County 1 district is tied with Aiken County.
Aiken County school officials have said they were actively applying for funding from the state to cover more officers.
Gov. Henry McMaster wants more money for school security staffing.
Earlier this year, he requested $21.1 million to cover the cost of staffing the 177 schools in the state that lack officers.
This past week, the House Ways and Means Budget Committee provided just $3.7 million.
MORE FROM NEWS 12
South Carolina: Latest from the State House
- Civil lawsuit changes stir legislative struggle in South Carolina
- S.C. continues $1.8 billion ing error investigation amid financial controversy
- S.C. attorney general set to file motion over disability law
- Officials push for utility choice after study of S.C. power grid
- McMaster nominates new lead of South Carolina’s military department
- Tax cuts could be coming for South Carolina boat owners
- Lawsuit reform bill ‘doesn’t benefit any S.C. citizen,’ attorney says
“There should be no higher priority for the General Assembly than placing a school resource officer in the last 177 public schools without one,” said Brandon Charochak, spokesperson for the governor. “The governor will continue to urge the General Assembly to finish the job this year and protect the students, teachers, and staff at these remaining schools.”
Since 2018, McMaster has pushed the lawmakers to provide enough funding so all 1,283 brick-and-mortar public schools in the state can afford a full-time SRO.
South Carolina again faces showdown over school vouchers
The South Carolina House approved its own version of a bill that would let parents spend taxpayer money on private school tuition.
There were just 406 full-time SROs in South Carolina in 2018. Now there are 1,106, according to data from the governor’s office.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
