Consent 1.E.
Regular City Council Meeting
- Meeting Date:
- 08/10/2020
- TITLE
- Memorandums of Understanding for Career Center and Billings Central High, High School and Middle School Resource Officers (SROs)
- PRESENTED BY:
- Rich St. John
- Department:
- Police
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the SRO Program Memoranda of Understanding with Billings Public Schools and Billings Catholic Schools.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The City of Billings and the Billings Public Schools have enjoyed a 25 year history with the School Resource Officer (SRO) Program. The attached Memoranda of Understanding's (MOUs) make provisions for program objectives, guidelines, financial consideration and for terminating the agreements. The MOUs are for the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021. The SRO Program is a collaborative effort by certified law enforcement officers, educators, students, parents, and the community, to offer a liaison program in the schools to reduce crime, drug abuse, violence, and provide a safe school environment. The Program also provides networking, public relations, and relationship building among the City, Police Department, the School District and the community. The City Council is being asked to approve two separate MOUs. One with Billings Catholic Schools (BCS) and Billings School District 2 (BSD2) for a shared SRO. The second with BSD2 for seven SRO's. The total amount would be $365,311.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Approve the MOUs for the SRO Program; or
- Disapprove the MOUs for the SRO Program. The effect would be that the City would have to supply the $365,311 that the Billings Public Schools contributes to the program or modify/eliminate the program.
FISCAL EFFECTS
The approximate total cost for the SRO positions is $628,784. The Billings Public Schools will make a payment of $365,311 to help defray some of the salary and benefit costs for the eight officers.