Murfreesboro approves MOUs to apply for $1.05 million in state SRO grant funding for 14 schools

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The Murfreesboro City Council on July 17 approved memorandums of understanding between the city and Murfreesboro City Schools and Rutherford Collegiate Prep to allow the Murfreesboro Police Department to apply for the Statewide School Resource Officer (SRO) Grant.

City staff said the grant provides funding of up to $75,000 per year per qualifying K–12 public or charter school to offset SRO salaries and benefits. Murfreesboro Police Department currently has SROs assigned to 14 schools, which makes the agency eligible for a combined $1,050,000 annually if awarded the full amount for each school.

A police department representative said the duration of the program is not known and requested council approval of the MOUs to complete the grant application. The department’s school-safety team was also recognized: the council noted the Murfreesboro Police Department School Safety Division recently received the Model SRO Agency Award from the National Association of School Resource Officers.

Action: Council approved the MOUs and authorized submittal of the SRO grant application. Roll call: Miss Aberwater — Aye; Miss Gills Harris — Aye; Mister Maxwell — Aye; Vice Mayor Schackler — Aye; Mister Wright — Aye; Mayor Shane McFarland — Aye. Motion passed unanimously.

What it means: If the grant is awarded, award funds will be used to offset FY2026 salaries and benefits for SROs currently on staff. The grant’s availability and duration are subject to state program rules; staff noted it is not yet known how long the program will continue or whether the funding level will remain unchanged.

Council members had no substantive objections and commended the department’s school-safety work. The MOUs permit the department to complete the state application and formalize relationships required by the grant program.