Wortham council, school board to meet

The Wortham City Council and the Wortham Independent School District plan to meet in a joint session to discuss the appointment of a school resource officer, according to City Secretary Kasi Wright.

The council agreed to seek the combined session at its Tuesday, April 8, meeting after hearing from Interim Chief of Police Kelly Craig, who recently met with school officials to gather information about the need for an officer. The council directed Craig to research the issue at its March meeting.

Wright said she will coordinate the date of the meeting with school officials, and the meeting's agenda will be posted as is required by law. The joint meeting will be open to the public.

"We have to find a time that works for everybody who will be there," Wright said.

Officials want to have a school resource officer on duty for the 2025-2026 school year, Wright said.

The salary of the resource officer in Wortham would be paid by the school district, but the Wortham Police Department would oversee supervision. Wortham police now respond to calls for assistance at the schools.

Texas law, House Bill 3, requires that all schools have a commissioned, armed law enforcement officer on duty. School districts with good cause exceptions, such as a lack of funding, can substitute school personnel who are armed and have been trained to handle emergencies.

House Bill 3 was passed in response to the Uvalde elementary school shooting in Texas by a former student, Salvador Ramos, who killed 19 students and two teachers and injured 17 others.