A day after Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell threatened to cut crossing guards and school resource officers in a budget dispute with county commission, people are upset. The Sheriff asked the county commission for 500 thousand dollars to balance her budget. The commission voted to refuse. Now, the Sheriff says if she does not win her appeal to state leaders, cuts will be made. School Officials say there are not just worried about people losing their jobs, but the sacrifice that comes with it.
County employees say they will wait and hope a compromise between the Sheriff's Office and the county can be made, so that children's safety won't have to suffer.
The proposal states a removal of seven Deputies from schools throughout the county. Removing the school crossing guard program from the following schools: Archer Community, Hidden Oak, Ft. Clarke, Kanapaha Middle, Idylwild Elementary, Lake Forest Elementary, Lawton Chiles Elementary, Oak View Middle, Newberry Elementary, Prairie View Elementary, Shell Elementary, and Wiles Elementary Schools.