ELKINS — The Randolph County Commission approved a contract with Randolph County Schools for the placement of two Randolph County Sheriff’s deputies in two of the county’s schools for the upcoming school year.

Since the fall of 2021, the County Commission and school district have partnered to make sure schools are safer by putting Prevention Resource Officers into schools. When the program first began deputies were assigned to Tygarts Valley Middle/High School and Elkins Middle School.

In January of 2023 the two sides agreed to place a third officer at Elkins High School. But after that assigned officer, Ethan Carr, was promoted, the contract for this school year is for only two PRO officers.

Randolph County Commissioner Cris Siler asked Sheriff Rob Elbon, “You are just doing two schools, right?”

Elbon replied. “We will have two officers and the main schools will be Tygarts Valley High and Elkins Middle. And they are also covering Elkins High School right now as well. We are trying to take care of all three with both guys.”

Rocky Hebb, the PRO officer regional liaison for Tucker, Upshur, Barbour and Randolph counties, and Daniel Pennington are the PRO officers assigned to the schools. Both deputies have been part of the program since its inception.

The officers’ duties are not limited to the high schools and middle schools. Throughout a school week they also visit the county’s elementary schools and go where they are needed.

Siler, along with Commission President David Kesling and fellow Commissioner Chris See, unanimously approved the contract, which will run through the end of the school year.

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During the meeting the Commission also approved a maintenance contract between All-Systems Softwares and the RCSO.

The contract will run through 2026 and is for an online service that helps the county collect fire fees. The County Commission unanimously approved the contract, which was for $194.

“This maintenance contract is fire fee, fire fee internet inquiry, and fire fee payments,” Kesling said.

The next Randolph County Commission meeting will be held at the Commission Annex on Oct. 16 at 1:30 p.m.