FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools' Board of Education voted in favor of adding five new school resource officers to the budget.
The five school resource officers will go to, Glenn, Mount Tabor, Parkland, and Reynolds High Schools, along with Paisley Middle School.
The Forsyth County Sheriff's Office said there are currently 37 SRO's with the Forsyth County Sheriff's Office distributed between 25 schools.
"In some of our larger schools like West Forsyth we have over 2,200 students and one school resource officer, so the addition of five SROs is going to supplement the manpower we already have," Forsyth County Sheriff's Office Public Information Officer Christina Howell said.
Howell said they think it's best when it comes to safety and security.
Board member Alex Bohannon wanted other members to pass it.
"Although I do have questions about it, as far as implementation and roll-out, I actually believe this is a very modest increase versus what I've seen in other communities after they had tragedies such as what happened at Mount Tabor," Bohannon said.
The district said it would cost $212,000 to bring the new SROS to the schools. The SROS will start on Jan. 1. The term runs through the beginning of June.
The district also approved a measure to make it easier for people to get substitute teacher jobs. Applicants need 48 college semester hours instead of 60 to qualify.
The district also voted to make Friday, Nov. 12 a day off for students and staff. It will be a day to focus on mental health of students and staff by showing kindness, community and connection.