Gloucester supervisors, at the board’s July 5 meeting, voted to allow Gloucester County Public Schools to apply for a grant through the state Department of Criminal Justice School Resource Officer program.

Currently, an additional three SROs would be needed to have a full-time officer at each of the county’s public schools.

The grant would cover the salary and benefits for the SROs for a four-year cycle. The grant does not require a match in FY23 but will in future years at an amount that is not yet known. SROs are employees of the Gloucester County Sheriff’s Office and would serve as road deputies when not at the schools.

The schools can apply for up to $125,000 per SRO, but the estimated salary for a new SRO is $76,000 and for three new SROs the estimated total would be $238,000. The estimated startup cost for these positions is $204,000 with additional annual expenses at $22,000. The startup cost and additional expenses would not be covered by the grant.

The total amoun...