Report Prepared by: Matt Williams, Police Captain, City of Merced Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Merced City School District Contract for Police Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Merced Police Department and the Merced City School District (MCSD) for police services in the District’s four middle schools.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving a Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Merced and the Merced City School District to provide police services in the District’s four middle schools; and,
B. Authorizing the City Manager or Assistant City Manager to execute the agreement; and,
C. Authorizing the Finance Officer to make the appropriate budget adjustments.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Approve, as recommended by staff; or,
2. Approve, subject to other than recommended by staff; or,
3. Deny; or,
4. Refer to staff for reconsideration of specific items; or,
5. Continue to a future City Council meeting.
AUTHORITY:
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Council Requested Projects - Elementary School District - School Resource Officers.
DISCUSSION
Historically, the Merced Police Department assigned officers to the four middle schools as School Resource Officers. Several years ago, due to budgetary constraints, the Merced City School District and the Police Department discontinued the School Resource Officer Program in the middle schools.
In the 2015-16 school year the Merced City School District and the City of Merced negotiated an MOU in order to implement the School Resource Program. The school district would like to continue the SRO program and have signed a new MOU with the City of Merced.
Under the proposed agreement, part-time School Resource Officers will be used to implement the program.
Under the agreement, the City agrees to pay the SRO’s hourly wage at the rate of Temporary Senior Police Officer, Step 5, and any employment benefits in accordance with the applicable salary schedules and employment practices in place at the time of the agreement.
Pursuant to the agreement, the part-time SRO may not work more than 25 hours per week, or 960 hours per calendar year. The part-time SRO’s time will be split between no more than two City School District middle schools.
The Merced City School District agrees to reimburse the City of Merced for one hundred percent (100%) of the part-time SRO’s hourly wages. The part-time SRO’s are not allowed to work overtime. The total reimbursement for each part-time SRO shall not exceed $38,484.69 per fiscal year.
The part-time SRO will be assigned to work with school administrators, staff and students at no more than two of the District’s middle schools at one time. The objective is to promote and facilitate a safe learning environment for staff and students.
In addition to providing basic police services in the middle schools, implementing the School Resource Officer Program is one intervention strategy that has been effective in identifying at-risk youth and providing services that help the schools and the families of at-risk youth to establish and maintain acceptable standards of behavior in schools and in their neighborhoods.
IMPACT ON CITY RESOURCES
Not Applicable.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Merced and the Merced City School District.