Report Prepared by: Joe Weiss, Police Lieutenant, City of Merced Police Department
Title
SUBJECT: Approval of a One-Year Agreement with Merced City School District for Police Services
REPORT IN BRIEF
Considers approving a one-year agreement with the Merced City School District for police services in the District’s four middle schools.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Adopt a motion:
A. Approving an Agreement with 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 has assigned officers to the four middle schools as School Resource Officers (SRO) on a part-time basis. The Merced City School District (MCSD) and the Merced Police Department have decided that full-time School Resource Officers would be more effective in implementing the School Resource Officer Program in the middle schools.
In the 2018-2019 school year, MCSD and the City of Merced negotiated an Agreement to implement the School Resource Program. The school district would like to continue the SRO program and have signed the attached Agreement with the City of Merced.
Under the proposed one-year agreement, one or more full-time School Resource Officers will be used to implement the program.
Under the agreement, the City agrees to provide and pay the SRO’s salary and employment benefits in accordance with the applicable salary schedules and employment practices of the City which are in effect during the time of this Agreement. During the term of the Agreement, MCSD agrees to reimburse the City for 70% of the actual cost, including salary and benefits, of each full-time SRO selected to serve the District. The amount billed for SRO services will not exceed the Senior Police Officer step 5 rate.
Pursuant to the Agreement, the SRO’s will be assigned to Tenaya, Rivera, Hoover and Cruickshanks Middle Schools. When school is in session, the SRO will work an equivalent of 40 hours per week. MCSD may request an SRO to work during the evening or weekends beyond the scheduled 40 hour work week (overtime). MCSD shall pay the City all costs that the City incurs in providing additional services.
The SRO will be assigned to work with school administrators, staff and students at the District’s middle schools. 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.