Staff Recommends that the City Council approve the SRO Program Memorandum of Understanding with Billings Public Schools and Billings Catholic Schools.  

The City of Billings, Billings Public Schools, and more recently, Billings Catholic Schools, have enjoyed a 26-year history with the School Resource Officer (SRO) program.  The attached Memorandum of Understanding's (MOU's) make provisions for program objectives, guidelines, financial consideration and for terminating the agreements.  The MOUs are for the period of July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022.  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 community.  The City Council is being asked to approve two separate MOUs.  One combined Billings Catholic Schools (BCS) and Billings School District 2 (BSD2) for a shared (1) SRO, and the second with BSD2 for seven (7) SRO's.  The total amount would be $365,311.

City Council may:

• Approve the MOUs for the SRO Program; or,
• Not Approve the MOUs for the SRO Program.  If not approved, City would have to absorb $365,311 currently paid by PSD2 and BCS and/or modify or eliminate the program.

The approximate total cost for the SRO positions is $628,790.  Billings Public Schools and Billings Catholic Schools will make a payment of $365,311 (58%) to help offset salary and benefit costs for the eight officers.