Habersham BOE stalls vote on law enforcement

CLARKESVILLE - Despite positive discussion during its work session Monday afternoon, two board members said publicly in Monday night's meeting they were not prepared to vote in favor of a proposed agreement that would eliminate the school system police department in favor of service provided by the Habersham County Sheriff's Office.

That led to Board Member Don Corbett withdrawing his motion and Board Member Rick Williams withdrawing his second to proceed with the transition.

Instead, the board voted 5-0 to delay the decision until a meeting already called to discuss the system budget next week.

Prior to bringing the item to the table for action, the board made an exception to its policy by allowing three people to speak on the issue of student safety. Normally public comment is reserved for the end of the agenda, but Chairman Gilbert Barrett told the three it was important to the board that they hear their input.

Two current Habersham County Board of Education Police Department traffic officers addressed the board during the regular meeting Monday night, as they had done during a work session two weeks prior.

Brandi Crawford beseeched the board to restore the traffic control position that was eliminated at Baldwin Elementary earlier this year, saying one child crossing there - even with a parent - is enough to warrant the position.

During its work session Monday afternoon, the board had heard from Superintendent Matthew Cooper that a comprehensive traffic plan, with sufficient back-ups included, would be made a part of the interagency agreement between the school system and the Habersham County Sheriff's Office. He noted one traffic control position, at Baldwin Elementary, was eliminated earlier this year by adding a bus pickup to serve the families of those students who previously walked to school alone.

Cooper also noted re-routing parents and students at Habersham Central High School could reduce the number of traffic officers needed at the high school.

The agreement and the traffic plan were discussed in detail during the work session, with Sheriff Joey Terrell saying he is committed to providing the level of service lined out in both the agreement and the traffic plan. Cooper showed the board the original of the traffic plan, which Terrell has signed off on.

Board Member Pat Taylor said that even after the work session discussion, she had reservations about the proposed transfer of the police department to the sheriff's office and that she wasn't prepared to vote in favor of it.

"I'm not sure everything that we have is broken," Taylor said.

Taylor said she is favor of partnering with other agencies, but feels some questions persist that must be answered first. She also emphasized again her concern that the two police department trucks are needed within the school system.

Vice Chairman Robert Barron shared Taylor's hesitation. He noted many of his questions were answered in the work session, but noted there was at least one he hasn't asked yet that he feels must be addressed.

"Everything looks great," Barron told Terrell. "There's just one piece of the puzzle I want to ask."

Barron said he believed that could be accomplished in 10 minutes during the upcoming called board meeting to work on the budget.

Regarding tabling the matter, Barrett said following the meeting the board agreed it was important to have all the facts before voting.

"During our regular meeting tonight, we as a board decided to table it to look at some other concerns that some board members had and to make sure that everything was addressed before we signed the interagency agreement," Barrett said. "We want to make certain that we address those concerns - the concerns that have been brought up - so we will work through that and we will have it on our agenda for our called meeting to work on budget next week."