TITLE
The Mayor and City Council shall discuss and possibly take action to renew the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Maricopa and the Maricopa Unified School District for the purpose of a School Resource Officer to be placed at Maricopa High School for the FY12-13 school year. Discussion and action.
AGENDA ITEM DESCRIPTION
In FY11-12, the Mayor and City Council approved an Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Maricopa and the Maricopa Unified School District for the purpose of a School Resource Officer to be placed at Maricopa High School. This approved agreement had a term of one year from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012. Per the agreement's conditions, the IGA may be renewed for two additional one year terms upon the approval of both Parties.
Since 2007, the Maricopa Police Department and the Maricopa Unified School District have been working in a partnership to enhance school safety by placing a School Resource Officer at the High School. Previously, the position was funded through the School Safety Program. The School Safety Program was established by ARS 15-154 in 1994 for the purpose of placing School Resource Officers (SRO) and Probation Officers (PO) on school grounds. The officer's primary function is to deliver Law Related Education (LRE) in the classroom as well as develop positive interactions and relationships with the students, staff, and community they serve. This proactive, prevention-based program fosters a safe school environment through a comprehensive and collaborative approach between officers, site administrators, teachers and police and probation departments.
In Fall 2011, the Maricopa Unified School District was not awarded a grant through the School Safety Program and came to an agreement that the District and the City shall equally share the salary and benefits costs for the SRO during the regular school year.
Similar to the grant requirements, the School Resource Officer shall:
1. Assist school staff with law related education in the classroom;
2. Make formal and informal contact with students;
3. Assist with development of programs to control truancy, identify students who may be under the influence of alcohol or other substances, and deter weapons on campus;
4. Help instill a sense of security and self-esteem in a positive way on the campus;
5. Relate with students as role models and provide a bridge of trust between youth and law enforcement in a non-negative manner;
6. Assist in the development of an evaluation component to assess the effectiveness of the School Safety Program;
7. Fulfill duties as a sworn law enforcement officer.
A School Resource Officer contributes to an orderly, purposeful atmosphere, which promotes the feeling of safety conducive to teaching and learning for the parents and citizens of the Maricopa community.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends re-newing the Intergovernmental Agreement between the City of Maricopa Unified School District for the purpose of a School Resource Officer to be placed at Maricopa High School for FY12-13 school year.