House Education Committee Votes to Table Bill for School Resource Officer Funding
The House Education Committee voted along party lines to table House Bill 32, a proposal that would have provided state funding for School Resource Officers (SROs) or constables in public schools. Sponsored by Rep. Bryan Shupe (R-Milford South), the bill aimed to create a funding unit for these positions, similar to how teacher salaries are funded. Under the bill, the state would cover 70% of the costs, with local districts responsible for the rest.
The vote to table the proposal broke along partisan lines. The bill was met with opposition from Democratic committee members, who voiced concerns about its cost, estimating that it could cost state taxpayers up to $23.5 million if all eligible schools utilized the funding. Despite Rep. Shupe’s argument that the actual expense would be lower, as many local schools might choose not to employ officers in every facility, Democrats argued the funds could be better spent on increasing teacher salaries and hiring mental health professionals for schools.
According to the National Education Association, the average annual salary for an educator in Delaware in 2024 was $68,787, ranking it 16th in the nation. Last year, the General Assembly also committed to raising the starting salary of all public school teachers to $60,000. Last August, the governor signed bipartisan legislation creating a mental health services funding unit for Delaware high schools so high schools could add a full-time school counselor, school social worker, or licensed clinical social worker. The measure passed without a dissenting vote. When fully phased in, House Bill 200 will carry an initial annual state cost of $22.8 million.
The debate surrounding the bill highlighted differing priorities in addressing school safety and education funding. Rep. Shupe emphasized that SROs are not just law enforcement officers, but community builders who help foster positive relationships within schools. He was supported by Joey Melvin, a former SRO, who testified about the benefits of SROs in building trust and ensuring a safer environment. “During my time as an SRO, I saw that earning the trust of a child often extends to the parents, the guardians, and, in essence, the community,” he said. “It fosters collaborations, interventions, and a better sense of safety for everyone."
While the bill was tabled for now, its future remains uncertain. It could be revisited during the current legislative session if there is enough support for reconsideration or amendments. The decision underscores ongoing debates over how best to allocate state resources in order to balance school safety with other pressing educational needs.
New Bill Would Crack Down on People Interfering with School Buses
In a related matter, Senate Bill 48 seeks to expand the definition of disorderly conduct to include individuals who hinder school bus operations. Senate Bill 48 would expand the existing offense of disorderly conduct to encompass the belligerent behavior.
Under the bipartisan proposal, such conduct would include the following circumstances:
people who board the bus and refuse to exit after being ordered to do so by the driver;
people who threaten the school bus driver, a student, or any passenger entering, leaving, or waiting for the bus;
anyone who wrongfully restricts the movement of a school bus.
As a misdemeanor, the offense could result in up to 30 days in jail and a fine of up to $575. This bill would apply to any bus involved in transporting students, including pickups and drop-offs. The proposed amendment also clarifies that a student or authorized passenger’s right to ride the bus cannot be revoked under these circumstances. Co-sponsored by State Reps. Danny Short (R-Seaford) and Lyndon Yearick (R-Camden, Wyoming), Senate Bill 48 is currently awaiting a hearing in the Senate Education Committee.
Both of these pieces of legislation address critical safety concerns for students, though partisan divides may delay their passage. As lawmakers continue to debate and revise these bills, it remains to be seen whether the state will move forward with stronger protections for both school environments and school bus safety.
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