SUBJECT/RECOMMENDATION:
Title
Approve an agreement between the City of Clearwater and the School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, providing for the continuation and expansion of the School Resource Officer Program, for a multi-year period commencing July 1, 2018 through June 30, 2021, and authorize the appropriate officials to execute same.
Body
SUMMARY:
Under the current agreement between the School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, and the City of Clearwater, the Police Department provides law enforcement and related services to three schools (Clearwater High School, Countryside High School, and Oak Grove Middle School) during the school year. The assigned officers provide instruction in law education, conduct criminal and non-criminal investigations, provide security and maintain the peace, make arrests, and provide support services as necessary. The Police Department has maintained a positive working relationship with the School Board; School Resource Officers have been assigned to Clearwater High School since January 1, 1985, Countryside High School since January 1, 1986, and Oak Grove Middle School since August 27, 2007.
On April 30, 2018, in response to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, the Council directed the Police Department to implement a strategy which incorporated a combination of both Full-Time and Part-Time FTEs. This direction required modification of the existing contractual agreement between the School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, and the City of Clearwater.
The recent legislation and associated mandates necessitated an increase in the number of School Resource Officers needed to comply with the statute. As a result of this agreement, Clearwater Police Department Officers will now be assigned to the following schools:
1. Belleair Elementary School
2. Clearwater Fundamental School
3. Eisenhower Elementary School
4. Kings Highway Elementary School
5. Leila Davis Elementary School
6. Plumb Elementary School
7. Sandy Lane Elementary School
8. Skycrest Elementary School
9. Oak Grove Middle School
10. Countryside High School (two officers)
11. Clearwater High School (two officers).
The Pinellas County School Board will provide funding for thirteen School Resource Officer positions at a rate of $58,000 per officer, for each year of the three-year term. Total reimbursement per year equates to $754,000. Though the Police Department plans to continue supplemental funding for the three existing School Resource Officers utilizing Florida Contraband Forfeiture Funds, additional funding for the remaining positions will be identified through the City’s General Fund.
Significant additional duties/obligations under the new agreement include:
• The Police Department will be required to have an officer present at each school during regular school hours;
• Assigned SROs shall participate in school-based Threat Assessment Teams;
• Assigned SROs shall participate in site/school risk assessment activities;
• Assigned SROs shall participate in monthly emergency preparedness drills and annual training in conjunction with the School Board.
Should the School Board of Pinellas County, Florida, terminate this agreement within the initial two years, the School Board of Pinellas County shall purchase the required capital items (needed to equip the City’s School Resource Officers) at the fair market rate (at the time of contract termination).