Council Reviews School Resource Officer Agreement, Questions Frozen School System Contribution

The Wilmington City Council discussed a resolution authorizing an interlocal agreement with New Hanover County and the New Hanover County Board of Education for school resource officers.

Police Chief Soudema said the city provides four school resource officers to JC Roe, Williston, Hoggard, and Hanover schools, supplementing officers already provided by the Sheriff's Office. He said the city currently is reimbursed roughly $69,000, though he was unsure how the amount is split between the county and the school board. He described the arrangement as a long-standing relationship that helps police understand issues affecting both schools and the surrounding community.

A council member asked why the school system's contribution is capped at $69,914 if it is meant to represent one-third of the actual costs. The City Manager said the figure "has not changed in years and years and years" and that the city was too far along in the budget process to seek an adjustment for FY 27. She said the city intends to ask for the amount to be adjusted starting in FY 28 to reflect the one-third agreement.

Source: Agenda Briefing August 17, 2026