The Ohio County Board of Education on Monday did its part and approved a new contract that will keep sheriff’s deputies in the public schools for the remainder of this school year. It now goes to the Ohio County Commission for approval.

However, some details of the contract are worth discussion moving forward including what the Ohio County Sheriff’s Department is charging taxpayers for resource officers.

Board of Education President Dave Croft noted that the sheriff’s department charges the county schools $93,792 per deputy, while the Wheeling Police Department charges only $48,666 per PRO. The plan starting with the next school year is to use more Wheeling officers and fewer deputies.

Croft is right, of course, as that move will save taxpayers a considerable amount of money while keeping schools protected.