Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-13-18 City Commission Packet Materials - C5. Agreement with BSD7 for Resource Officer Commission Memorandum REPORT TO: Honorable Mayor and City Commission FROM: Cory Klumb, Captain Steve Crawford, Chief of Police City Manager Andrea Surratt SUBJECT: Agreement between City of Bozeman and Bozeman School District 7 regarding School Resource Officer pay and operational considerations. MEETING DATE: August 13, 2018 AGENDA ITEM TYPE: Consent. RECOMMENDATION: Authorize City Manager to sign an agreement between City of Bozeman and Bozeman School District 7 regarding continuation of School Resource Officer duties and payment of one-half (1/2) actual salary and benefits for four (4) School Resource Officers by the School District. BACKGROUND: For over 21 years, the Bozeman Police Department and School District have enjoyed a cooperative approach to identifying and resolving public safety concerns in the schools, in particular through the assignment of School Resource Officers (SROs). The goal of the SRO program is to provide a safe learning environment in our schools, provide valuable resources to school staff, foster a positive relationship with our community’s youth and school staff, and develop strategies to resolve problems affecting our youth. These efforts contribute to student and staff safety and are integral in helping fulfill the District’s Long Range Strategic Plan. In 2013, the Bozeman Police Department and the School District agreed to double the number of SROs from two to four. This increase has proven extremely successful by allowing officers to form closer relationships with students and staff, and giving them the ability to teach more classes directly to students. Additionally, SROs attend regular safety plan meetings, and have become an important resource for staff when discussing student needs and assisting parents of troubled youth. This collaborative approach has yielded great results in the solvability of criminal acts, the prevention of crime, successful drug interventions, and the ability to effectively address non-criminal student needs. The Bozeman Police Department has four full-time School Resource Officer positions. The School District has paid for one-half the actual salary of these officers, contributed to training costs to the National Association of School Resource Officers annual conference and provided offices in the High School and Middle Schools for several years. This agreement is a continuation of this commitment for the next five years, retroactive to July 1, 2018, with annual administrative extensions through June 30, 2023. 96 FISCAL EFFECTS: The estimated impact to departmental budget is half the total salary and benefits for four School Resource Officers for FY 2019. The total estimated cost is $381,096, with the school sharing $190,548 of this cost. In FY 2020 the estimated total salary and benefits are $401,736, with the school sharing $200,868. In FY 2021 the total salary and benefits for four officers is $423,480, with the school sharing $211,740 of the cost. The annual salary and benefits cost cannot be calculated beyond three years due to the expiration of the Bozeman Police Protective Association’s contract with the city in FY 2021. There is also approximately $7,500 in matching training funds from the School District over this same three year period. ALTERNATIVES: As suggested by the City Commission. Attachments: SRO Agreement July 1, 2018 to June 30, 2023 Report compiled on: August 1, 2018 97 CITY OF BOZEMAN – SCHOOL DISTRICT 7 SRO AGREEMENT 7-1-2018 TO 6-30-2023 AGREEMENT THIS AGREEMENT, made and entered into this _____ day of ___________ 2018, by and between the CITY OF BOZEMAN, a municipal corporation hereinafter referred to as “CITY”, and BOZEMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 7, hereinafter referred to as “SCHOOL”. WHEREAS: The CITY and SCHOOL face the challenge of keeping pace with a growing, ever-changing community. In particular, the increases in emergency calls at or around area schools have increased over the past decade and continue to challenge police resources. Serious crime by or involving young people, drug and alcohol abuse, campus violence, and potential for gang activity necessitate a strong working relationship between the CITY and SCHOOL. It is necessary to enforce district policy, serious behavior infractions, criminal law, crime prevention, attendance requirements and to develop strategies that will contribute to student and staff safety and progress toward the SCHOOL’s Long Range Strategic Plan. Results of this complex and changing environment include increased budget constraints, and the need to reevaluate the role of the police agency in the community, especially in the schools. An intergovernmental cooperation arrangement between the CITY and SCHOOL is deemed an efficient and desirable means for effectively addressing juvenile-related crime and other problems. The SRO is instrumental in providing a safe environment conducive to the learning process. Students, staff and our community have a heightened perception of safety due to the work of the SRO. Building relationships with students, faculty, staff, administrators and parents is important to the quality of the trust generated by the SRO on and off the campus. Positive relationships yield great results in the solvability of criminal acts, the prevention of crime, successful drug interventions, drug interdictions and the ability to effectively address non-criminal student needs. WHEREAS: The parties to this Agreement believe it is in their best interests to come to an Agreement creating and utilizing the position of “School Resource Officer” (SRO) as a means to enforce the compulsory attendance provisions of M.C.A. 20-5-101. Et. Seq., and to meet the demand for investigation, detection and prevention of juvenile criminal activity of Bozeman School District and other property within the city limits of Bozeman. NOW, THEREFORE, IN CONSIDERATION OF THE MUTUAL AGREEMENTS AND COVENANTS CONTAINED HEREIN, IT IS HEREBY AGREED AS FOLLOWS: 1. The CITY and SCHOOL shall mutually agree on the number of SROs to be hired. The number of primary SROs will be evaluated on an annual basis and allocated appropriately based on enrollment and services needs and expectations. The assignment of other trained SROs in a part-time basis shall be at the mutual agreement of both the CITY and SCHOOL. 2. The CITY shall designate trained and qualified officers(s) as SRO, assigned to assist other school officials in their effort to maintain a proper educational environmental for the students. In doing so, the SROs will, among others, assist in enforcing compulsory attendance and disciplinary polices and participate in the investigation of criminal activities involving juveniles, particularly when involving students or related to school district locations. The CITY shall maintain supervisory authority over the officer(s). 98 CITY OF BOZEMAN – SCHOOL DISTRICT 7 SRO AGREEMENT 7-1-2018 TO 6-30-2023 It is acknowledged and agreed by the parties that said officer(s) will remain employee(s) of the CITY. 3. SROs shall: abide by SCHOOL policies; provide a presence and education to students and staff that help prevent crime; conduct investigations of criminal acts that occur in the schools and involve students or staff;; make arrests when necessary; provide testimony at expulsion hearings; assist classroom teachers by being an authoritative resource on law enforcement specific and related topics; develop and deliver a variety of lesson plans and community presentations related to law enforcement-related topics such as search and seizure, miranda and law enforcement as a career. In addition, SRO’s will provide specialized lesson plans such as Bullying, Stalking, Sexual Assault and Sexual Predation by Drug, Internet Safety, Rights vs. Responsibilities of a Citizen, Effects of Alcohol and Commonly Abused Drugs, etc. 4. The SCHOOL shall be responsible for cost sharing of actual wage and benefit amounts earned by the primary SRO(s) in the performance of their duties in accordance with CITY payroll standards. The SCHOOL shall pay one-half (1/2) of the actual annual wage and benefit amounts in each fiscal year. The CITY will continue to act as fiscal agent for the officer(s). The CITY will provide the equipment and resources necessary for SROs to perform their duties. The SCHOOL and CITY will share costs for new computer(s), as needed. The SCHOOL will pay the CITY one half of the cost per SRO per year to share in the cost of cell phone service for each SRO. 6. The CITY will provide proper and adequate training for the SROs. The SCHOOL shall pay for ½ of the costs associated with the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO) Conference or SRO Basic training, as mutually determined by the CITY and the SCHOOL. 7. The CITY will ensure to the extent reasonable that the SRO will be available for duty on school grounds by encouraging the officer(s) to take vacation only when school is not in session. The SCHOOL shall recognize the officer(s) work schedule is specified by contract. 8. The SCHOOL shall recognize the lawful authority of the SRO and cooperate in their efforts to enforce the law. The SRO(s) act as part of the School’s Administrative Team, as determined by the SCHOOL. 9. The SCHOOL shall provide a primary office for each SRO and allow access to and use of office-related equipment by the SRO as needed, at no cost to the CITY. As necessary, the SCHOOL will provide an additional office(s) as determined mutually between the CITY and SCHOOL. 10. The SROs may request assistance from school support staff to assist in clerical related tasks that are not in conflict with the Confidential Criminal Justice Information System. This assistance will be provided at no cost to the CITY. 99 CITY OF BOZEMAN – SCHOOL DISTRICT 7 SRO AGREEMENT 7-1-2018 TO 6-30-2023 11. The SCHOOL acknowledges and agrees that the SRO is/are subject to call out by the CITY on short notice for major emergencies, and required as part of their duties to appear in conferences, at court hearings and at other related functions. 12. The SCHOOL shall designate someone of authority in the school(s) to act as a contact person for the SRO for the purpose of sharing information and discussing areas of concern (line of accountability). 13. The SRO(s) shall assist the SCHOOL in the development review of law enforcement and safety-related policies and procedures, to include related training or drills as deemed necessary. 14. The SCHOOL and the SRO(s) shall jointly participate in threat assessment meetings to determine the level of threat a student poses and to assist in the creation of a safety plan for that student. 15. The SCHOOL and the SRO(s) shall jointly participate in Interdisciplinary Team meetings. 16. The SCHOOL and the SRO(s) shall jointly participate in other meetings as appropriate to safety and prevention activities of the SCHOOL. Termination/Extension: The term of this agreement shall commence on the July 1, 2018 and extend through June 30, 2019, unless revoked by mutual consent of the parties in writing. Either party may terminate this agreement, without cause, upon furnishing the other sixty (60) days written notice thereof. The agreement may be renewed on an annual basis thereafter in writing executed by the Bozeman City Manager and Bozeman School District #7 Superintendent. The annual administrative extensions shall not exceed four additional years (June 30, 2023) IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have signed and executed the foregoing agreement the day and year first above written. BOZEMAN SCHOOL DISTRICT #7 CITY OF BOZEMAN By: _____________________________ By: _______________________ Robert J. Watson, Ed.D., Superintendent Andrea Surratt, City Manager ATTEST: ATTEST: _________________________________ ____________________________ Mike Waterman, District Clerk Robin Crough, City Clerk 100