Image Credit: Canva.
Article by Olivia Lupia, Tennessee Conservative News –
The Metro Council is anticipated to vote this evening on whether to approve a multi-million-dollar grant application for the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security’s School Resource Officer (SRO) Grant Program to help fund law enforcement officers in all Metro Nashville Public Schools (MNPS).
Launched by Gov. Bill Lee in 2023 after the Covenant School Shooting, the program provides up to $75,000 per school to pay for a dedicated SRO.
If approved, the $4.2 million request would support SROs at a total of 56 MNPS locations: 16 high schools, 29 middle schools, 10 elementary schools, and a preK-12 special needs school.
Currently, only seven of the district’s 73 elementary schools have a dedicated SRO, though there is at least one dedicated officer in all MNPS middle and high schools. Additionally, officials have noted that available funding doesn’t necessarily translate to available qualified SRO applicants.
“MNPD is still not up to its full quota of sworn officers, and that’s something that we need to try to address,” said Metro Council member Jason Spain.
MNPD is reportedly recruiting officers specifically for school assignments while also balancing the demand for patrol and investigative services across the city. Since Feb. 2024, 15 SROs have graduated from the academy, and four more are currently in training, according to the department.
MNPS has applied to the grant program in some form every year since its inception, receiving over $3 million in 2023.
In 2024, MNPD applied for the state funding after a previous request was denied, and in 2025 the Metro Council passed a resolution that would again allow the MNPD to apply for the state grant money.
“Unfortunately, it’s something we have to think about all the time, keeping our children safe,” said Councilman Spain. “That’s obviously our number one priority. From the school’s perspective, they can’t learn if they’re not in a safe environment.”
The grant application is on the agenda for the Council meeting tonight and will likely see a healthy amount of support as a recent elementary school shooting in Oregon that was ended by a brave father has reignited discussions and debates about school safety across the country.
Sources:
WKRN.
WSMV.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
