New Hanover Co. Commission has plan for funding elementary school deputies

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Last month, the New Hanover County School Board asked the county commission for funding to put a deputy in every elementary school.

Monday night, the board met and came up with a solution.

The sheriff is going keep the deputies currently in each elementary school.

The cost of nearly $635,000 is going to be shared between the county and the school system.

It is a price the county is willing to pay, but it is asking the city of Wilmington, Carolina Beach and Wrightsville Beach to contribute their own officers if they can.

Wilmington police chief Ralph Evangelous said today he could provide four officers to help in the effort.

“The sheriff, the city, the beach towns, the school system have all worked together at the same time at the same level of energy to provide a real option in the short-term,” said county commission chairman Woody White.

White says the plan can work through the rest of the school year, but says this is a temporary solution.

“There is an expectation, I think in the short-term, that we have a presence. We’ve done that while saving a tremendous amount of tax dollars. Long-term we’re going to continue to see if that’s what we do or not,” said White.

The school board is set to discuss the proposal at Tuesday night’s meeting.