The White County School Board agreed Thursday night to allow the sheriff’s office to use the old Central View Elementary School building as a training facility.
White County Sheriff Steve Page said the sheriff’s office is in desperate need of a building to train for active shooter scenarios. Page said the sheriff’s office currently trains in a small classroom behind the county jail.
“We have a small classroom, not as big as this room, probably not even half, if it will, that we do our defensive tactics and all that stuff in, and we’re crunched,” Page said. “I mean, it’s hard to get everybody up in there sometimes.”
Director of Schools Kurt Dronebarger said the school district currently uses the building for storage. Dronebarger said he would not mind having law enforcement over there, as the building has been a target for vandalism.
“We have had several minor break-ins over the years, and so it would be in our benefit to protect the property,” Dronebarger said.
Page said the sheriff’s office would install some security cameras. Page said he is unsure of when the sheriff’s office could begin moving into the building.
“Not till after our budget is passed anyway,” Page said. “We don’t have any extra money to do anything at all, but, just since the budget passes probably within the next month, I would like to get in there and start cleaning up and doing some work.”
School Board Member Jayson McDonald said he thinks repurposing the building for a training facility is a great idea.
“It provides some added protection for those folks on the west end of the county,” McDonald said. “It takes a while to get from Sparta to Central View. I don’t care how fast you drive, the roads are dangerous.”
A memorandum of understanding will be drawn up by Dronebarger and then be approved by the school board.
In other business, two district testing coordinators were approved.
The school board acknowledged Technology Supervisor Ashley Rust for her great work around the district and also for serving on the state’s Tennessee Educational Technology Association Board.
