SPARTANBURG, S.C. (AP) -- A Spartanburg County school district plans to post an off-duty deputy at each of its 10 elementary schools when students return in January.
The Herald-Journal of Spartanburg reports that Spartanburg 6 authorities are reacting to the Dec. 14 massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Conn, where a gunman killed 20 children and six adults.
Superintendent Darryl Owings says he called Sheriff Chuck Wright to arrange for the increased security within hours of the shooting.
Owings says the deputies will be in place until at the end of the semester, at an estimated cost to the district of $216,000.
He ultimately hopes to phase in permanent, full-time officers at each school.
The district already employs officers at its middle schools, who had periodically visited the elementary schools.
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