Title
Resolution to Authorize Guilford County Board of Education School Safety Resource Officer Contract 2021
Body
Council Priority: Promote Public Safety & Reduce Crime
Department: Police
Council District: All
Public Hearing: No
Advertising Date/By: NA
Contact 1 and Phone: Chief Brian James, 373-2085
Contact 2 and Phone: Stephanie Moore, 373-2352
PURPOSE:
The Guilford County Board of Education and the Greensboro Police Department have contracted to assign School Safety Resource Officers (SRO) to provide law enforcement services for the Board and certain Guilford County school campuses. In return, the Guilford County Board of Education will reimburse the City for a portion of the costs. The contract partially funds seventeen (17) officers for the period of February 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021, for total reimbursement of $580,401. The contracted period reflects the closure of schools and school activities prior to February 1, 2021. The contract is presented to Greensboro City Council in accordance with current city fiscal procedures.
BACKGROUND:
The School Safety Resource Officer program began July 2001 as a collaborative effort between the Guilford County Board of Education and the three jurisdictional law enforcement agencies in Guilford County: Greensboro Police Department, High Point Police Department and the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department. The law enforcement officers are assigned to specific schools in which the officers perform their law enforcement duties in coordination with school officials. The Guilford County Board of Education contracts yearly with each agency, providing funding for salaries, training and equipment.
While the schools were closed due to COVID, the Police Department took the opportunity to reassign the officers to other tasks, to include pre-hire background investigations. Also, while the school system’s proposed payment pertains to only one-half of the school year, it is 75% of the total costs applied to the second half of the year. This reflects a 75% cost recovery approach that city and school system officials have discussed and hopefully sets the stage for contract discussions for FY 21-22.
Furthermore, while there were many uncertainties regarding school schedules during FY 2020 - 2021 due to COVID restrictions and certain middle/high schools with assigned SRO’s were eventually closed for in-person learning for a portion of the school year, the City continued to bill for the SRO services each quarter, consistent with prior year levels. As such, $795,790 is recorded as an Accounts Receivable in the City’s Miscellaneous Billing System. If City Council approves the addendum to the July 1, 2001 SRO contract allowing Guilford County Board of Education to pay 75% of the total estimated costs for the second half of the 2020-2021 school year or $580,401, in consideration for the school closures, then it is also requested that Council approves a write-off of additional amounts billed of $215,389 in excess of the agreed upon amount.
BUDGET IMPACT:
The School Safety Resource Officer contract between the City and the Guilford County Board of Education states the Guilford County Board of Education will reimburse the City for payroll and equipment expenses related to the SRO program in the amount of $580,401 for the period of February 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021. The additional SRO expenses will be charged to the Police Department.
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
It is requested that the City Council pass the resolution allowing the Greensboro Police Department to enter into a contract in the estimated amount of $580,401 with the Guilford County Board of Education for the period of February 1, 2021 through June 30, 2021. It is also requested that City Council approves a write-off of $215,389 in the City’s Miscellaneous Billing System for amounts billed to Guilford County Board of Education in excess of the agreed upon amount of $580,401 during FY 2020 -2021.