Moore County School Board divides over security guard plan amid SRO shortage

Moore County Schools argued security guard protection as a proactive measure at the Sept. 2 work session.

Ironically, the board was divided on the superintendent’s security guard proposal. While leadership saw unarmed guards as an immediate solution, several members wanted to delay approval for further debate on discipline policies and the district’s unique police structure. Members openly opposed the plan, arguing stronger law enforcement partnerships and that stricter student discipline may be more effective. The following discussion’s summary shows deep frustration, ideological differences and no clear consensus, suggesting the decision could be delayed for months.

Jamie Synan, deputy superintendent, said 14 SRO vacancies remain despite ongoing recruitment. To address the shortage, the district proposed a contract with North Carolina Protection Group (NCPG) to provide six unarmed security guards and one supervisor.

The guards would be stationed at Cameron, Southern Pines, Westmoore, West End, McDeeds Creek and Sandhills Farm Life elementary schools. Their duties would include patrolling campuses, assessing threats, assisting administrators and covering athletic events.

The supervisor would serve as the point of contact with the district’s police department, oversee daily operations and provide coverage when guards are absent. Guards would not be armed and would not have law enforcement authority.

The contract would cost about $334,500, (pays guards $32 per hour) funded through allocations from vacant SRO positions in the 2025-26 budget.

Superintendent Tim Locklair recommended the plan be approved at the Sept. 8 regular board meeting, but board members wanted more discussion that may linger several months.

Member David Hensley did not want to vote on the guard proposal for lack of discussion and said of the 115 districts, Moore County is one of two with their own SROs instead of fully trained officers provided by law enforcement. The school provided SROs do not have active shooter training.

“Our refusal to give up our own police force is the root cause of this problem,” Hensley said.

“They [NCPG] haven’t done this with any other school district…The mission of our SRO is to stop an active shooter,” Hensley said about SROs and NCPGs needing special training and added the board should be “expelling students who do student on student or student on faculty violence. We don’t’ need to add more armed guards…or run schools more like a prison. We need to deal with the chronic violators and get them out of our community.”

Locklair, who held his forehead several times during the active debate, said the district was “forward thinking” to provide protection and that it was his job to ensure safety and that is why he brought the recommendation to the board and wanted the guards placed quickly.

“We’re not perfect, but we do our best,” Chair Robin Calcutt said.

Members Amy Dahl and Steve Johnson said the matter needed more discussion time.

“I get really tired of people saying, ‘Well, he had a bad day today,”’ Member Pauline Bruno said about violent students not being properly disciplined.

“We’ve been arguing this for three years,” Member Kenneth Benway said about the security discussion continuing and needing a task force. “20 million [people] have flown into America that present a threat to Moore County.”  

“We can add protection while we have that discussion. The big question I have is about having analyses on why we’re having a hiring problem,” Steve Johnson said about finding SROs.

The next Moore County School Board meeting is Sept. 8 at 5:30 p.m.

Sept. 3, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

Submit news tips and interview requests to editor@sandhills.news.